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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.
Dugongs come in 5 distinct varieties: Kung Fu, Boxing, Wrestling, Legendary Master and Wandering. All dugongs can be challenged to a fist fight duel and tamed by reducing their HP below half, except for the Wandering variety which can very rarely be tamed.
Apr 8, 2024 · Manatees are from the Trichechidae family, while dugongs belong to the Dungongidae family. Dugongs (Dugong dugon) tend to be much smaller than manatees, weighing around 550 – 600 lbs (249 – 272 kg), and have a far more streamlined body.
6 days ago · Dugongs are long-lived animals (up to 73 years). Predation by killer whales and sharks has been documented, and crocodiles may also prey on dugongs. In the past dugongs were widely and heavily hunted by humans for their meat, hides, and oil.
- 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
Dugong dugon is the only extant species of the family Dugongidae, and one of only four extant species of the Sirenia order, the others forming the manatee family. [13] It was first classified by Müller in 1776 as Trichechus dugon, [14] a member of the manatee genus previously defined by Linnaeus. [15]
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Dugongs are unique sea creatures that belong to the order Sirenia. They’re often called sea cows due to their plant-eating habits. Despite living in the water, dugongs are more closely related to land animals than other marine mammals.
