Search results
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.
Oct 4, 2019 · Their intestines are long and suitable for digesting seagrass, and their metabolism rate is low. When seagrass is scarce, dugongs feed on algae. There has been speculation that dugongs occasionally eat invertebrates such as sea squirts, shellfish, and polychaete worms, which live in the seagrass.
Aug 21, 2020 · The dugong is a marine mammal that spends its time grazing on seagrass in shallow coastal waters. A close relative of manatees, it is the only remaining member of the Dugongidae family. Often dubbed 'sea cows', dugongs are the only marine mammal that eats virtually only plants.
- Shawn Laidlaw
- Sirenia
- Mammalia
- Chordata
As the lone marine mammal that eats only plants, dugongs play a key role in sea grass ecosystems. They help keep sea grass beds healthy by grazing and spreading seeds. This unique diet makes dugongs different from all other sea mammals.
Jul 12, 2024 · Dugongs are unique marine mammals known for their exclusive plant-based diet and distinct physical features. They share a close relationship with manatees and are the only surviving member of their family.
Dugongs are herbivorous marine mammals that mainly eat seagrass. Their diet consists almost entirely of underwater plants found in shallow coastal areas. These gentle creatures graze on seagrass meadows, using their sensitive snouts to dig up the entire plant, including the roots.
The dugong is closely related to the manatees, and both are distantly related to the elephant and not to other marine mammals. It is the only plant-eating mammal that lives its entire life in the ocean.
