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The dugong is a herbivorous marine mammal sometimes referred to as a ‘sea cow’, and one of four living species that belongs to the order Sirenia. They graze on underwater grasses and have an adorable, plump appearance, with a dolphin tail, round head and downward snout.
- Shallow warm coastal waters
- Mainly in Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean
- Up to 70 years
- 8 to 10 feet
- 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!
Jul 14, 2023 · Discover 16 mesmerizing facts about dugongs, including their gentle nature, unique habitats, and fascinating conservation efforts. Embark on a journey into the world of these graceful marine mammals.
- Dugong Species. There are 4 species in the dugong family, 3 out of the 4 are manatees and only 1 is dugong: “Dugong dungon”, which is the species we have here in North Sulawesi.
- Appearance. Dugongs are often referred to as “sea cows” due to their heavy, solid looking bodies. They are a greyish brown color and range in length from 2.4 meters up to 4 meters and adults weigh from between 230 – 400 kilograms.
- Behavior. Dugongs are a social species and found in groups which can vary in size from just 2 to 200 individuals. Pairs of dugongs found together are often mother and calf pairs.
- Feeding. Dugongs are the only completely herbivorous marine mammal on the planet and their diet consists entirely of sea grass. They use their upper lips to uproot the entire sea grass plant rather than eating only the leaves – this leads to dugong “trails” which are like sandy pathways through sea grass beds.
What are Dugongs? Why do people refer to them as sea cows? And why do Dugongs love to spend time in the seagrass beds? Why do Dugongs get the luxury of Legal protection? Here are some interesting 50 Dugong Fun Facts that you need to know! Dugongs are social creatures; however, typically, you may find them in pairs with their mother and calf.
Interesting Facts About the Dugong. Dugongs differ from their closest living relative, the manatee, in a number of ways. These unique characteristics set dugongs apart from many other marine mammals. A Truly Marine Mammal – Dugongs are the only species in the order Sirenia (dugongs and manatees) that lives in an exclusively marine environment.
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Dugongs graze on underwater grasses day and night, rooting for them with their bristled, sensitive snouts and chomping them with their rough lips. These mammals can stay underwater for six...
