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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.
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Dugongs are large marine mammals often called sea cows due to their herbivorous diet and slow, gentle nature. They are related to both manatees and—surprisingly—elephants. They live in warm coastal waters from East Africa to Australia, grazing on underwater grasses as their main food source.
Evolution. Dugongs are part of the Sirenia order of placental mammals which comprises modern "sea cows" (manatees as well as dugongs) and their extinct relatives. Sirenia are the only extant herbivorous marine mammals and the only group of herbivorous mammals to have become completely aquatic.
Dugongs are primarily herbivorous, grazing on up to 30kg of seagrass a day. They eat both day and night, locating their food with the help of coarse, sensitive bristles on their upper lip. These large creatures are found in warm water around coastlines, both north and south of the equator.
- Dugong Facts and Characteristics
- Are Dugongs Aggressive?
- How Does A Dugong Eat?
- Are Dugongs Extinct?
- Dugong Predators
- How Do Dugongs Sleep?
- Conclusion
Let’s learn about some characteristics of the dugong… Dugongs tend to live alone or in pairs. Occasionally they can be observed in larger herds reaching even 100 dugongs. The weight of a dugong is in the order of hundreds of kilograms and it can reach 900 kg. The tail of a dugong is similar to the tail of a dolphin. You can see how its tail looks l...
Are you wondering if dugongs are friendly or aggressive? Dugongs are not afraid of people but at the same time they are friendly.
Do Dugongs eat fish? Dugongs don’t eat fish or any other animal. Dugongs are herbivores and herbivores only eat plants. This is why dugongs are also known as “sea cows”. The dugong uses its snout to search for plants at the bottom of the sea. As a result of this, it leaves large furrows on the seabed.
Are you wondering if dugongs are still alive? How many dugongs are left in the world? According to this sourcethere are roughly 100,000 dugongs living in 40 different countries. Some of the countries where dugongs live are Australia, Qatar (Persian Gulf), Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan. Due to its slow reproduction rate ...
What are dugong’s predators? Do sharks eat dugongs? Sharks, for example tiger sharks, eat dugongs considering that dugongs are a relatively easy pray due to poor eyesight. Their predators kill dugongs by drowning them. Orcas also hunt dugongs. Unfortunately the dugong has also been hunted historically for its oil and meat.
When I see these beautiful animals I wonder… How do they sleep? Dugongs don’t fall asleep completely in the same way we do as humans. They rest for short intervals of time during which they rest parts of their brain.
We have covered several facts about the dugong. I hope you now know more about this beautiful animal.
Dugongs spend much of their time alone or in pairs, though they are sometimes seen gathered in large herds of a hundred animals. Reproduction and Conservation
People also ask
Are dugongs herbivores?
What is a dugong mammal?
Are dugongs extinct?
What do dugongs eat?
Do dugongs eat sharks?
Why do dugongs eat seagrass?
Jul 12, 2024 · They’re herbivores, mainly feeding on seagrass found in seagrass beds or meadows. They use their snouts and bristles to dig up and eat these underwater plants. Sometimes, they might also consume algae and small invertebrates.