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Potamosiren
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- The earliest animal that had a dugong-like appearance is believed to be the Potamosiren, which lived around 15 million years ago.
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May 27, 2024 · The earliest animal that had a dugong-like appearance is believed to be the Potamosiren, which lived around 15 million years ago. Appearance and Behavior. Dugongs are insulated with layers of fat and can weigh up to 1,100 pounds. ©vkilikov/Shutterstock.com. Dugongs are large, elongated animals with a down-turned snout and thick brown or gray skin.
- Female
- April 22, 1960
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.
6 days ago · Dugongs are usually observed singly or as pairs, and sightings of dugongs by early seafarers are believed to have given rise to the mythology of mermaids and Sirens. Herds of 100–200 dugongs, however, are sometimes seen, 450 being the maximum recorded.
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
Apr 5, 2024 · The dugong, along with the manatee, is believed to be the inspiration for ancient seafaring tales of mermaids and sirens, their faces having been spied by explorers when they rose to the surface for a breath of air.
In order to breathe, dugongs are known to stand on their tails, pointing their heads out of the water. The dugong appeared about 50-60 million years ago, evolving from an elephant-like animal, entering the water. Dugongs usually shake their head to clean seagrass from sand and only then swallow it.
The dugong is a gray/brown marine mammal with a torpedo-shaped body. They are considerably more streamlined in appearance than their rather rotund relative, the manatee. Dugongs also differ from their manatee cousins in the shape of their tails.
