The Manatee of Helena is a creature believed to have once inhabited the coast of
Saint Helena, an island supposed to be largely populated by
manatee
Manatees (, family (biology), family Trichechidae, genus ''Trichechus'') are large, fully aquatic, mostly herbivory, herbivorous marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows. There are three accepted living species of Trichechidae, representing t ...
s during the days of colonization. Unlike known manatee species, Helena manatees were semi-aquatic, often coming onto land like seals. There is no evidence to prove its existence, and only two eyewitness accounts have been reported.
Southern elephant seals historically bred on the island,
and this
cryptid could be a misidentification of elephant seals.
[Karl P.N. Shuker, 2014, ''The Beasts That Hide from Man: Seeking the World's Last Undiscovered Animals'', p.138, Paraview Press]
References
Culture of Saint Helena
Fictional aquatic mammals
Purported mammals
Manatees
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