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Jul 10, 2021 · Despite their impressive abilities, dugongs face numerous threats. They’re listed as vulnerable or endangered in many areas. Factors like habitat loss, pollution, entanglement in fishing nets, and boat strikes pose significant dangers to their populations.
- Dugong Profile
- Interesting Dugong Facts
- Dugong Fact-File Summary
The dugong is a herbivorous marine mammal sometimes referred to as a ‘sea cow’, and one of four living species that belongs to the order Sirenia. They graze on underwater grasses and have an adorable, plump appearance, with a dolphin tail, round head and downward snout.
1. They once swam through Egypt
According to recent findings, dugongs inhabited waters that flowed over present-day Egypt approximately 40 million years ago. Their ancestors were likely semi-aquatic. 1
2. They belong to the same order as manatees
Unlike the manatee, dugongs live exclusively in marine habits. One can quickly distinguish the two based on their tails—manatees possess paddle-shaped tails while the dugong’s is dolphin-like (fluked).
3. Dugongs have been nicknamed “sea cows”
Known to graze on sparse seagrass patches, dugongs are often called “sea cows”. They prefer grass that is high in nitrogen content and low in fiber, making it easier to break down. Most graze all day. They are also sometimes called ‘sea pigs’ and ‘sea camels’.
Scientific Classification
1. Geggel, Laura. “Adorable ancient sea cows once swam through now bone-dry Egyptian desert”. Live Science. 2020. 2. Leela Rajamani, Annabel S. Cabanban, and Ridzwan Abdul Rahman “Indigenous Use and Trade of Dugong (Dugong dugon) in Sabah, Malaysia,” AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment 35(5), 266-268, (1 August 2006). 3. Marsh, Helene. “Chapter 57: Dugongidae”. Fauna of Australia: Vol. 1B Mammalia. CSIRO. ISBN 978-0-644-06056-1. 4. “Dugong”. National Geographic.
Unfortunately, dugongs are listed as vulnerable or endangered in many parts of their range due to various threats, including habitat loss, pollution, entanglement in fishing nets, and boat strikes. Dugongs hold cultural significance for many indigenous communities in regions where they are found.
- Dugongs Are Also Called Sea Cows. Dugongs have very muscular cleft upper lips that stick out over their mouths. These bristled and ultra-sensitive snouts are very strong and allow dugongs to root around the ocean floor and grab seagrass.
- They are Closely Related to Elephants. There were once other Dugongidae species like dugongs in the oceans, like the Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas).
- You Can Guess a Dugong’s Age by Looking at the Rings on Its Tusks. The tusks of a dugong are actually just two elongated front teeth. These stick out from their mouths and have sharp, angled edges.
- Dugongs Can Live for a Very Long Time. When dugong babies are born, they are only around 3 or 4 feet long and weigh 44 to 77 pounds. That may not seem all that small, but a fully grown dugong can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh over 1,000 pounds!
Nov 29, 2022 · Is a Dugong Dangerous? While these animals may look intimidating with their large size and sharp tusks, they’re quite gentle creatures. Dugongs are herbivores who feed on sea grasses found in shallow coastal waters.
Nov 19, 2024 · In the past dugongs were widely and heavily hunted by humans for their meat, hides, and oil. Although now protected by law throughout their range, dugongs in some areas remain in danger of local extinction because of excessive hunting and habitat degradation.
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Is a dugong a herbivorous mammal?
Feb 1, 2018 · The dugong (Dugong dugon) exists as the only known herbivorous marine mammal and is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as being vulnerable to extinction due to human activities and hunting. This creature can support a weight of 400kg, reach lengths of up to five metres, and is able to sustain life on earth for ...
