High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis), also known as the West African manatee or seacow, is a species of manatee; it is mostly herbivorous (eats plants). African manatees can be found in much of the western region of Africa, from Senegal to Angola. Scientists do not know a lot about this species, but they hypothesise the African manatee is very similar to the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus).