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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 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 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.
- 5 Incredible Dugong Facts
- Scientific Name
- Evolution
- Appearance and Behavior
- Habitat
- Diet
- Predators and Threats
- Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan
- Population
It is believed that dugongs and the closely related manateeswere sometimes mistaken for the legendary Greek mythological figures, the sirens, by some European sailors traveling far from home. This...
The scientific name of the dugong is simply Dugong dugon. This name probably comes from the local Visayan word for the species, which was later picked up by Europeans. Visayan is spoken in what is now the modern-day Philippines. The dugong is one of four living members of the order Sirenia — the others being three species of manatees— and the only ...
Despite the enormous physical differences, dugongs and manatees are most closely related to modern-day elephants. They are not related to any marine mammal but are thought to have descended from a primitive land mammal. The earliest Sirenians were probably four-legged amphibious mammals that could move easily between land and water. They may have b...
Dugongs are large, elongated animals with a down-turned snout and thick brown or gray skin. The technical term for the body shape is fusiform. This means their bodies are shaped like a spindle that is tapered at the ends. Dugongs can measure anywhere between 8 and 10 feet in length and up to 1,100 pounds in weight. Their immense weight is owed to t...
The dugong inhabits the nearby warm coastal regions of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its range is very large but also fragmented. This includes the eastern coast of Africa, Madagascar, the Persian Gulf, the coasts of India and Sri Lanka, and the Pacific region around Southeast Asia and Australia. It is also believed that they might have once inhab...
Dugongs have adapted to a herbivorous lifestyle that largely revolves around the consumption of seagrass. They have the option to either feed superficially on the leaves or attempt to dig up the entire plant by the root. Less commonly, they will consume algae when seagrass cannot be found. Shellfish, sea squirts, worms, and jellyfish, hiding along ...
Due to their docile nature and relative lack of defenses, a single dugong can make a tempting target for a number of hungry predators. Their one true defense is their immense size, which allows them to fend off all but the largest creatures such as sharks, crocodiles, and killer whales that patrol the coasts. The young calves are most vulnerable to...
Unlike many other species, dugongs do not have a set mating season. Instead, they can mate all year round, whenever an opportunity presents itself. After dugongs congregate in an area, the males engage in competitive and aggressive mating displays to attract females. The mating itself can sometimes turn violent and leave permanent scars on the fema...
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List currently lists the dugong as vulnerable to extinction. Despite plenty of legal protection, population numbers appear to be decreasing across the world. Due to their specific dietary needs and slow reproduction times, dugongs may be particularly susceptible to population depleti...
- Female
- April 22, 1960
Dugongs can live for 70 years. Dugongs are ocean herbivores that have inspired ancient legends. Here we take a look at the fascinating species.
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.
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Fecal analysis revealed that although dugongs (Dugong dugon) from Moreton Bay in tropical Australia fed primarily on seagrasses, ascidians were an important part of diet. Ascidians occurred in 73% of 48 fecal samples, accounting for 26% of their wet weight.
