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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 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
The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a herbivorous marine mammal and the only member of the family Dugongidae. The dugong is classified as ‘vulnerable to extinction’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, indicating that there is a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future.
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.
May 9, 2018 · The female dugongs are characteristically larger than male dugongs. The males have prominent tusks, which develops when they mature. Sometimes, mature female dugongs also develop tusks because the dugongs are herbivores and feed only on plantation, sea grass and algae, although sometimes shell fish and jellyfish.
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The dugong (Dugong dugon) is the only living member of the Family Dugongidae. The dugong is the only marine herbivorous mammal, depending largely on seagrass for food. The dugong’s range extends to over 40 countries from East Africa to the Pacific. Australia is home to the largest remaining population of dugongs.
