the focus of this project is on the West Indian manatee, Trichechus manatus.
there are two other species of manatees living today in addition to Trichechus manatus, the West Indian manatee. under the genus Trichechus, we have the Trichechus senegalensis and the Trichechus inunguis, though these species do not live in United States waters. to be scientifically accurate, one must note there exists a proposal to further classify Floridian manatees into a subspecies -- Trichechus manatus latirostris. however, there has been no substantial body of evidence to justify this division.
the complete scientific classification of the manatee is as follows:
Animalia Chordata Mammalia Sirenia Trichechidae Trichechus manatus
and, as expected, ignorant humans unaware of the this obvious scientific classication have given "shorthand" names to the Animalia Chordata Mammalia Sirenia Trichechidae Trichechus manatus. why they just can't say Animalia Chordata Mammalia Sirenia Trichechidae Trichechus manatus every time they see a Animalia Chordata Mammalia Sirenia Trichechidae Trichechus manatus I may never know...
Common names applied to Trichechus manatus:
Manatee
sea cow
vaca marinha (sea cow in Spanish)
peixe-boi (fish cow in Portuguese