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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. The fossil record shows sirenians appearing in the Eocene, where they most likely lived in the Tethys Ocean.
- Dugongs Are Also Called Sea Cows. Dugongs have very muscular cleft upper lips that stick out over their mouths. These bristled and ultra-sensitive snouts are very strong and allow dugongs to root around the ocean floor and grab seagrass.
- They are Closely Related to Elephants. There were once other Dugongidae species like dugongs in the oceans, like the Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas).
- You Can Guess a Dugong’s Age by Looking at the Rings on Its Tusks. The tusks of a dugong are actually just two elongated front teeth. These stick out from their mouths and have sharp, angled edges.
- Dugongs Can Live for a Very Long Time. When dugong babies are born, they are only around 3 or 4 feet long and weigh 44 to 77 pounds. That may not seem all that small, but a fully grown dugong can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh over 1,000 pounds!
4. They are more closely related to elephants than whales. Protein analyses of dugong eye lenses suggest they share a common ancestor with hyraxes and elephants. Like elephants, dugongs can also grow tusks. These are found in males as well as older females.
- Shallow warm coastal waters
- Mainly in Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean
- Up to 70 years
- 8 to 10 feet
Dugongs are more closely related to elephants than other marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins. 2. Dugongs only give birth every 3-7 years, and live for up to 70 years.
Both are related to the elephant, although the giant land animal is not at all similar in appearance or behavior. Underwater Behavior
Dugongs are large marine mammals often called sea cows due to their herbivorous diet and slow, gentle nature. They are related to both manatees and—surprisingly—elephants. They live in warm coastal waters from East Africa to Australia, grazing on underwater grasses as their main food source.
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Are dugongs related to elephants?
Are dugongs related to whales?
Are dugongs related to manatees?
Are dugongs eutherians?
What if a hippopotamus merged with a dugong?
Are dugongs extinct?
Apr 5, 2024 · In fact, dugongs (Dugong dugon) are cousins of manatees and share a similar appearance, but for their dolphin fluke-like tail, shorter fins, and long, more prehistoric-looking face. Both are related to elephants, but not hippos.
