Amazonian Manatee

The Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis), commonly referred to as cowfish in Brazil, is a species of manatee that lives in the Amazon Basin in Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. It has thin, wrinkled brownish or gray colored skin, with fine hairs scattered over its body and a white chest patch. It is the smallest of the three extant species of manatee. == Taxonomy == The specific name, inunguis is Latin for "nailless". The genus name Trichechus, comes from Latin meaning "hair", referencing the whiskers around the manatee's mouth. == Physical characteristics == The Amazonian manatee is the smallest member of the manatee family and can be distinguished by its smoother rubbery skin and lack of vestigial nails on its flippers. Ranges of body weight and size observed are 7.5–346 kg (17–763 lb) and 76.0–225 cm (2 ft 5.9 in – 7 ft 4.6 in) for captive males, 8.1–379 kg (18–836 lb) and 71.0–266 cm (2 ft 4.0 in – 8 ft 8.7 in) for captive females, and 120.0–270 kg (264.6–595.2 lb) and 162.0–230 cm (5 ft 3.8 in – 7 ft 6.6 in) for free-ranging manatees, respectively. The maximum actual Amazonian manatee weight reported is 379 kilograms (836 lb). Calves…