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The dugong is the only strictly marine herbivorous mammal, as all species of manatee utilise fresh water to some degree. [13] Nonetheless, they can tolerate the brackish waters found in coastal wetlands, [ 33 ] and large numbers are also found in wide and shallow mangrove channels and around leeward sides of large inshore islands, where ...
May 27, 2024 · Dugongs are considered herbivores because they primarily feed on a diet of seagrass and algae at the bottom of the coastal beds. Less commonly, they will consume invertebrates either as a supplement while foraging for grass or as a replacement when other foods cannot be found.
- Female
- April 22, 1960
The dugong, like all sea cows, is herbivorous. It primarily grazes on sea grasses and therefore spends most of its time in sea grass beds. Unlike the closely related manatees, the dugong never enters freshwater and is therefore the only exclusively marine mammal that is herbivorous.
Dugongs are herbivores (graminivores) and primarily feed on seagrass. They will occasionally eat invertebrates such as jellyfish, sea squirts, and shellfish. Populations in Moreton Bay, Australia, feed on invertebrates such as polychaetes or marine algae.
Diet and Feeding Behavior. 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.
- Mammalia (Mammals)
- Chordata
- Sirenia
Dugongs are primary consumers and the only completely herbivorous marine mammals. They consume seagrass, particularly of the families Potamogetonaceae and Hydrocharitaceae in the genera Halophila and Halodule .
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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.
