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The dugong (/ ˈ d (j) uː ɡ ɒ ŋ /; Dugong dugon) is a marine mammal.It is one of four living species of the order Sirenia, which also includes three species of manatees.It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest modern relative, Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas), was hunted to extinction in the 18th century.
The dugong is an aquatic mammal with thick, tough, and smooth skin. The skin color of newborn dugongs is pale cream, darkening as they age, becoming deep slate gray on the sides and dorsum. The body of the dugong is sparsely covered with hair, and the muzzle exhibits bristles. The upper lip is cleft and muscular, hanging over the mouth, which ...
- 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!
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”.
- Shallow warm coastal waters
- Mainly in Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean
- Up to 70 years
- 8 to 10 feet
1. Dugongs grow to a maximum length of 13 feet (4 m) long and weight of 595 pounds (270 kg). 2. Dugongs can live up to 70 years. 3. Dugongs are referred to as sea cows because they use their strong, cleft upper lips to graze on sea grasses they uproot from the seafloor. 4. Dugongs are sirenians and therefore related to manatees.
1. Dugongs are marine mammals closely related to elephants. Dugongs are unique sea creatures that belong to the order Sirenia. They’re often called sea cows due to their plant-eating habits. Despite living in the water, dugongs are more closely related to land animals than other marine mammals.
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They have small, peg-like teeth that are continually replaced throughout their lifetime. They are large animals, fully grown dugongs typically range from 2.5 – 3.4 meters (8.2 – 11.15 ft) in length and weight around 250 – 400 kg (551 – 882 lbs) Dugongs have a distinctive body shape, with a large, broad, rounded body and a relatively ...
