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No dorsal fins
- Dugongs have a long, cylindrical body and no dorsal fins.
biologydictionary.net/dugong/
Like all modern sirenians, the dugong has a fusiform body with no dorsal fin or hind limbs. The forelimbs or flippers are paddle-like. The dugong is easily distinguishable from the manatees by its fluked, dolphin-like tail; moreover, it possesses a unique skull and teeth.
- 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
They don’t have a dorsal fin or hind limbs. They diet on seagrass, and migrate to different locations when seagrass is not available. Dudong’s can live for a long-time, with the oldest dugong to date was documented to have been 73-years old.
- Shallow warm coastal waters
- Mainly in Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean
- Up to 70 years
- 8 to 10 feet
Dugong fins resemble those of dolphins, but unlike dolphins, dugongs lack a dorsal fin. Females have mammary glands under the fins from which their calves suckle. Adult dugongs weigh from 230 to 400 kg and can range from 2.4 to 4 m in length.
May 7, 2015 · Dugongs have dull grey, torpedo-shaped bodies with paddle-like forelimbs, and a fluked tail like a dolphin. Mature males have tusks. Dugongs lack dorsal fins and hind limbs. Dugongs are notoriously shy and do not approach humans, which makes getting data on these elusive animals difficult.
- Dugongs are closely related to manatees, and are commonly known as ‘sea cows’ due to their peaceful grazing nature.Dugongs have dull grey, torpedo-...
- Dugongs can be as big as 10 feet (3 meters) long and can weigh a whopping 1000 pounds (499 kilograms)! Baby Dugongs can be up to 4 feet (1.2 meters...
- Although commercial hunting of Dugongs has been banned, Dugongs are still listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss through coa...
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Jul 12, 2024 · Unlike dolphins, dugongs don’t have a dorsal fin. Their faces feature a snout that points downward and is covered with stiff bristles, which help them forage for food. Male dugongs sometimes develop small tusks similar to elephants, reflecting their distant relation.
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Dugongs have a fusiform body shape, with no dorsal fin and paddle-like forelimbs. Their heavy bones help them stay submerged while grazing on the seafloor. There is relatively little sexual dimorphism in dugongs.
