Macroscopic and microscopic study of our anatomical specimens reveal several distinguishing features of the brain of manatees:

Large, lobulated somatic sensory nuclei of the brainstem that process information from the manatee's mobile browsing mouth parts (trigeminal nuclei), forelimb (cuneate nucleus) and the fluke (Bischoff's nucleus); Somatic sensory regions from the face are also relatively enlarged in the thalamus as well as the cerebral cortex.

Facial motor nuclei in the medulla that produce the prominent orofacial behaviors of the proboscis, lips and vibrissae are relatively large.

Particularly large are all the sensory brain structures of the auditory system, which indicate that hearing is well developed in manatees. This hypertrophy is seen in the massive auditory nuclei of the brainstem and thalamus, especially the cochlear nuclei, nuclei of the lateral lemniscus, and medial geniculate nucleus. The region of cerebral cortex estimated to be auditory in function is also relatively large;

Also, noticeable are the relatively small eye, optic nerve and sensory visual regions of the lateral geniculate nucleus, superior colliculus, and thalamus;

Relatively small, too, are the motor nuclei that innervate eye muscles (oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nuclei);

The brainstem sensory and motor nuclei associated with the animal's large tail and enlarged viscera are also more complex and enlarged;

Olfactory circuits are small, but taste circits are prominent.

Of special note is that the manatee's cerebral cortex is relatively smooth and unconvoluted, suggesting that this cortex is less complexly interconnected within and between cortical areas, as well as with extracortical regions of the brain. The implied relative simplicity of cortical circuits perhaps reflects the relative simplicity of the manatee's sensory-motor life-history traits

Brain nuclei (amygdala,basal forebrain nuclei, hypothalamus, hippocampus) associated with socio-emotional expression are not very elaborate or enlarged in manatees. Again, such relative simplicity may reflect the relatively calm social and emotional lifestyles often noted of these mammals.

These various features indicate a minimal behavioral role of vision; a perceptuo-motor emphasis on audition, and upon somato-sensation from perioral structures (expected from a browsing animal with large mobile proboscis and vibrissae) as well as from the forelimb and fluke (not expected).

We are preparing a series of papers (electronic and hardcopy) which, for the first time, will provide a detailed description and portrayal of the important brain features (mentioned above) of this unique endangered marine mammal.