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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 ...
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.
- Description of The Dugong
- What Do Dugongs Eat?
- Distribution of Dugongs
- Behavior of Dugongs
The dugong (Dugong dugon)is a herbivorous marine mammal, the only extant species of the Dungongidae family. The species belongs to the same order as the manatee, which is one of its closest relatives, but the body of a dugong is streamlined, torpedo-shaped, and can be differentiated by the shape of its tail. The dugong features a roughly triangular...
Dugongs are strict herbivores that feed on seagrass, especially the Hydrocharitaceae and Potamogetonaceae family of seagrasses. They prefer seagrasses that are low in fiber content, high in nitrogen, and easily digestible. Their intestines are long and suitable for digesting seagrass, and their metabolism rate is low. When seagrass is scarce, dugon...
Dugongs inhabit the warm coastal waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Australia is home to the largest dugong population, but the species is also common in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, the eastern coast of Africa, and the western coast of Madagascar. Other dugong populations can be found around parts of the Indian subcontinent and western regions...
Dugongs are social animals and are typically observed in groups ranging between 2 and 200 individuals. A mother and her calf is usually the smallest group. Herds of up to 200 dugongs have been observed, but are rare because seagrasses cannot support large herds for an extended period. They are semi-nomadic animals and often migrate long distances i...
Dugongs have a specialized diet that reflects their adaptation to life in shallow coastal waters. They are herbivores, feeding almost exclusively on seagrasses. Dugongs graze on a variety of seagrass species, preferring those that are higher in nutrient content. Dugongs use their bristled, muscular snouts to dig up seagrasses from the seabed.
- Mammalia (Mammals)
- Chordata
- Sirenia
Dugongs are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. They use their sensitive snouts to search for sea grass on the ocean floor, and they can eat up to 40 kilograms of sea grass every day! Dugongs also like to swim near coral reefs, which are home to many colorful fish and other marine creatures, providing them with a variety of food options.
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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Since dugongs are herbivores, their diet consists exclusively of seagrass. They are often referred to as “sea cows” because of their grazing habit below the waves. Dugongs live in very shallow, temperate water where seagrass flourishes, and they need to eat plenty of it to stay healthy. These animals tend to graze 24 hours a day, ferreting ...