What is peixe-boi?

Peixe-boi is Portuguese for "sea cow". It refers to a group of marine mammals that are also known as manatees. There are three species of manatees: West Indian manatee, Amazonian manatee, and West African manatee. They are herbivores and can grow up to 13 feet in length and can weigh up to 1,300 pounds. Manatees can be found in warm, shallow waters of rivers, estuaries, and coastal areas in the Americas and West Africa. They are threatened by habitat loss and hunting, but conservation efforts have helped to increase their populations.