Search results
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.
Similar to dugongs, laboratory rodents, including rats, hamsters, and mice, have only one layer of myoid cells in the testis (Preen, 1995). It is believed that myoid cells play an important role in the intratesticular transport of immobile sperm and so are integral to spermatogenesis ( Zhou et al., 2019 ).
- Dugong vs. Manatee
- Slow-Moving and Slow-Growing
- Using Hair to See
- Big Boned
- Silent Predators
Dugongs are easily distinguished from manatee species by their dolphin-like tail, whereas manatees have hind fins more similar to a seal or walrus. They also have other specific adaptations such as a down-turned snout that allow it to feed specifically on seagrass with its unique, peg-like molar teeth.
Much like they move, dugongs also grow slowly. Females give birth to just one calf after a year-long pregnancy. Her young will remain close to her for up to 18 months. Because of their long life span (70 years) and slow reproduction rates, dugong populations are vulnerable despite legal protection. Humans have hunted dugongs for thousands of years,...
Dugongs have poor eyesight but good hearing. They are also covered head to tail with short hairs. These hairs are most concentrated around the mouth and are thought to help them navigate the seagrass beds, much like dogs and cats use their whiskers as a navigational aid.
Dugong bones have almost no bone marrow inside and are very solid. In fact, dugong bones are among the densest in the entire animal kingdom. These may act as a type of ballast, allowing the animal to remain effortlessly suspended just below the surface of the water when resting. Sometimes, they will rest their tail on the bottom to anchor themselve...
Although adult dugongs have few predators due to their size, they are quite susceptible to pathogens including helminths, cryptosporidium, and other bacterial and parasitic infections. In fact, in Queensland, Australia, up to 30% of dugong deaths are due to disease. Even still, the biggest threat to dugongs is habitat loss and death at the hands of...
- Shawn Laidlaw
- Sirenia
- Mammalia
- Chordata
With a brain that makes up just 0.01% of its body weight (that’s 300grams of 400kg!), the gentle dugong could be presumed to be one of the more dim-witted oceanic species. Yet despite this brain to body mass ratio, dugongs have good memories and can remember specific feeding grounds, in which they return to after travelling away.
- Dugong
- Dugong dugon
- Herbivore, feeding exclusively on seagrasses
- Mammal
The dugong (Dugong dugon) 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.
Sep 5, 2023 · However, it does take a long time for a dugong to get that big. Depending on where they live, some dugongs are not fully grown until they are at least 10 to 20 years old! Fortunately, dugongs do have pretty long lifespans and can live around 60 to 70 years. In fact, the oldest dugong on record lived to be 73 years old! 5. Dugongs Only Live in ...
People also ask
What does a dugong do?
Are dugongs a mammalian?
Why are dugongs vulnerable?
How long do dugongs live?
Why are dugong habitats important?
Are dugong extinctions anthropogenic?
Nov 15, 2024 · Dugongs range in length from about 2.2 to 3.4 metres (7 to 11 feet) and weigh 230 to 420 kg (500 to 925 pounds). As with whales and dolphins, the dugong has a tapered body that ends in a deeply notched tail, or fluke.
