Search results
papuaparadise.com
- Sharing a pudgy, plump body shape, the dugong has a dolphin fluke-like tail and lives exclusively in salt water, unlike its fresh-water swimming relative.
www.australiangeographic.com.au/fact-file/fact-file-dugong-dugong-dugon/
Dugongs and other sirenians are not closely related to other marine mammals, being more related to elephants. [18] Dugongs and elephants share a monophyletic group with hyraxes and the aardvark , one of the earliest offshoots of eutherians .
May 9, 2018 · The dugongs look very similar to a manatee even though they are from different species. They are very closely related and look almost identical to one another, except when you look at their tail. The tail of the dugongs is characteristically forked like that of the tail of a shark, whereas the tail of the manatees is flat and broad, a little ...
Dugongs differ from their closest living relative, the manatee, in a number of ways. These unique characteristics set dugongs apart from many other marine mammals. A Truly Marine Mammal – Dugongs are the only species in the order Sirenia (dugongs and manatees) that lives in an exclusively marine environment.
As climate change affects oceans across the globe, dugongs help maintain the plants that sequester carbon and contribute to the overall health of the planet. Dugongs also provide a food source for predators like sharks and killer whales, contributing to the stability of the marine food web.
Unlike the manatee, dugongs live exclusively in marine habits. One can quickly distinguish the two based on their tails—manatees possess paddle-shaped tails while the dugong’s is dolphin-like (fluked).
- Shallow warm coastal waters
- Mainly in Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean
- Up to 70 years
- 8 to 10 feet
Jul 12, 2024 · Dugongs share their habitat with various marine species. One of their main natural predators is sharks , particularly tiger sharks. Killer whales (orcas) may also hunt dugongs.
Feb 27, 2024 · They’re basically marine mammals that decided legs were overrated and evolved to live in the water full-time. They’re closely related to manatees, but with some key differences that we’ll get into.
