1 / 4   China now has an African “mermaid” cub, after an African manatee gave birth for the first time in the country at south China’s Guangdong Province. /Xinhua Photo

2 / 4   The baby animal was born at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Zhuhai City on May 8, weighing 25.4 kg. Its length was 116 cm. /Xinhua Photo

3 / 4   The African manatee, also known as the West African manatee or sea cow, is widely believed to be the origin of the mermaid. They inhabit much of the western region of Africa – from Senegal to Angola. /Xinhua Photo

4 / 4   The African manatee is the only kind of large marine mammal that eats vegetables. They have been included in the “Red List of Threatened Species” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2012. /VCG Photo