I asked on IG & tumblr about your favorite local-to-you animals, which I plan on drawing soon, but first I figured I ought to draw some local-to-me animals. First up: Alabama's state marine mammal, the American or West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus)

Manatees are large marine mammal who can live in both saltwater and freshwater. These large, docile herbivores are typically found in shallow coastal areas, rivers, and estuaries. Both subspecies (Florida manatee in the US, Antillean in the Caribbean) are considered endangered by the IUCN.

(patrons can see a timelapse of this as I dip my toes into the video-making water)