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Dugongs and manatees may look similar, but they're separate species. One easy way to tell the difference is to check their tails — manatees have round, paddl...
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- Oceana
- Dugong vs Manatee Tails
- Snouts
- Teeth
- Nails
- Dugong vs Manatee Habitats
- Diet and Feeding
- Conservation of Dugongs and Manatees
- How Can You Help?
One of the easiest ways to tell the difference between a manatee and dugong is by looking at their tails. Dugong tails are similar to dolphin, or even mermaid, tails. Two tail lobes are joined at the centre and stick out on either side. This is known as a flukedtail. In contrast, manatee tails lack a fork. Instead, they’re paddle-like and are often...
If you’re ever lucky enough to come face-to-face with a dugong or manatee in the water, make sure you get a good look at its snout. A wide snout which droops down towards the seabed (like an elephant’s trunk) means you’re looking at a dugong. If it’s short and bulbous, with a divided upper lip, you’re looking at a manatee. The shape of manatee lips...
Another key difference between manatee and dugong is their teeth. They can be tricky to spot, but many dugongs have a pair of ‘tusks’ at the front of their mouths. The tusks are also referred to as overgrown upper incisors. Alongside their long trunks, the tusks add to the ‘elephant-like’ appearance of dugongs. The tusks are typically found in post...
Both manatees and dugongs use their flippers to steer themselves in certain directions. But, if you spot nails on the end of a flipper, you’re looking at a manatee. Manatees are distant relatives of elephants, hyrax and aardvarks, all of which have nails. It’s thought that manatees once roamed the land alongside their relatives. On land, their nail...
Behavioural patterns can also help you tell the difference between a manatee vs dugong, including where they live. Dugong are found exclusively in shallow coastal waters. You’ll typically find them sheltering from strong currents in bays, mangrove forests and harbours. They’re found across the Indo-Pacific region, which spans East Africa to Austral...
Dugongs and manatees are both predominantly herbivores. Despite this, their diets and feeding habits differ slightly. Dugongs are what is known as bottom-feeders. As the name suggests, dugongs eat from the the sea floor. Their long trunks rip up plants, roots and all, which they ingest through their mouths. Seagrassis by far their main source of fo...
Both dugongs and manatees belong to the taxonomic order of Sirenia. But did you know that this order used to have another member? Steller’s sea cows were part of the Dugongidaefamily, alongside modern-day dugongs. They were much larger than their relatives, reaching astounding sizes of up to 9m (30 feet). Sadly, this species suffered heavily at the...
But it’s not all doom and gloom – there are plenty of charities out there working hard to protect existing dugong and manatee populations. Don’t forget, you can do your bit to help too – whether you live on the coast or not: 1. East less fish.Less demand for fish means less fishing, which means less discarded fishing gear. 2. Consider eco-friendly ...
May 27, 2019 · If you see a photo or a video of an animal snuffling around on the bottom and hoovering up lunch, it’s probably a dugong. Manatees have a shorter snout and typically feed at or near the surface. #2 Body size – Manatees can grow up to 4 metres/13 feet long, whereas dugongs rarely get larger than 3 metres/9.8 feet long.
The manatee’s tail is the clearest difference in appearance. They have paddle-shaped tails, while the dugong’s tail is fluked like a whale’s. Another difference in appearance is the manatee’s snout. It is shorter than the dugongs. Manatees grow to around 13 feet long but weigh up to 1,300 pounds.
- Dugongs and Manatees: Size. One of the most noticeable differences between a dugong vs manatee is their respective size. On average, manatees grow longer and heavier than dugongs, although individual dugongs can grow bigger than most manatees.
- Dugongs and Manatees: Habitat. Dugongs and manatees may both belong to the order Sirenia, but they live on opposite ends of the planet. Dugongs are the only remaining representatives of the Dugongidae family, and their current range is much more limited than in the past.
- Dugongs and Manatees: Snout. The shape and size of the snout also rank among the most noticeable differences between a dugong vs manatee. Dugongs sport a wide, trunk-like snout similar to an elephant’s.
- Dugongs and Manatees: Teeth. Although dugongs and manatees are both herbivores, they evolved very different sets of teeth. Dugongs grow two incisors, or tusks, which emerge when males hit puberty.
manatee. Dugongs are smaller and even slimmer than manatees, while manatees tend to have a rounder, chunkier appearance. Dugongs have a downturned, longer snout than manatees have, while manatees have no incisors or molars and instead simply have cheek teeth. Another obvious difference is the tail shape. As mammals, manatees and dugongs both ...
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This article will detail the differences so you can easily tell the two mammals apart. Manatee vs Dugong: 9 Differences 1. They aren’t in the same family. Manatees and dugongs may be of the same order, but they are not of the same family classification. Manatees are members of the Trichechide family, and dugongs are members of the Dugongidae ...
