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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.
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.
- 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 images (Dugong dugon) - stock photos, illustrations & facts of the only surviving herbivorous marine mammal family of Dugongidae Conservation status | Vulnerable Scientific
Genus Dugong dugong. Dugong: pictures (1) Dugong: specimens (12) Species Dugong dugon dugong. ... ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all ...
Dugongs tend to occur in groups or herds and their movement over an area can be followed by the sand plume disturbances to the sea floor. Life history cycle Like their relatives, the manatees of the Americas, female Dugongs in season attract the attention of a number of males, one or two of which will eventually mate with her.
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May 7, 2015 · Dugongs and manatees are the only herbivorous marine mammals alive today. Dugongs like warm water and are found between 27° north and south of the equator. There may be more than 80,000 Dugongs in Australian waters, more than half the world’s total. The scientific name for a Dugong is Dugong dugon.
