The Dugong (Dugong dugon), also known as the sea cow, is a large marine mammal found in warm coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific region. This gentle herbivore is the only surviving species of its genus and is closely related to the manatee. The Dugong is an iconic species, holding cultural significance for many coastal communities, and is considered a vulnerable species due to habitat loss, hunting, and other threats.
Description & Characteristics
The Dugong (Dugong dugon) is a robust, fusiform-shaped marine mammal with a thick, gray-brown skin. Its body is adapted for aquatic life, with a streamlined shape, flipper-like forelimbs, and a powerful tail. It possesses a small head with a blunt snout and a pair of fleshy nostrils located on the upper lip. The Dugong’s upper lip is highly mobile and acts as a “rake” to pull seagrass towards its mouth. Adults can reach lengths of up to 3 meters and weigh up to 400 kilograms.
Habitat and Occurrence
The Dugong (Dugong dugon) is a strictly herbivorous mammal and thrives in areas rich in seagrass. They prefer shallow, sheltered coastal waters, particularly seagrass meadows and eelgrass meadows, which provide abundant food and protection from predators. They are found in a wide range of marine zones, including the Subtidal, sublittoral, infralittoral, and deep zone of the oceans, from the lower limit of the intertidal zone (intertidal) to the shelf edge at about 200 m water depth. They are also commonly found in the neritic zone, which is the area of the ocean over the continental shelf.
Taxonomy
The species Dugong dugon belongs to the Class: Mammalia, Order: Sirenia, and Family: Dugongidae. The Sirenia order includes manatees and dugongs, and they are the only herbivorous mammals adapted to an entirely aquatic lifestyle.
Distribution and Occurrence
The Dugong (Dugong dugon) has a wide distribution across the Indo-Pacific region, ranging from the eastern coast of Africa to the eastern coast of Australia. Their preferred habitat includes shallow coastal waters, including seagrass meadows, eelgrass meadows, and other areas with abundant vegetation. They are found in a variety of marine zones, including the Subtidal, sublittoral, infralittoral, and deep zone of the oceans, from the lower limit of the intertidal zone (intertidal) to the shelf edge at about 200 m water depth. They are also commonly found in the neritic zone, which is the area of the ocean over the continental shelf.
Feeding
The Dugong (Dugong dugon) is a herbivorous animal, with a diet consisting primarily of seagrass. They are highly selective feeders, preferring certain species of seagrass over others, and their diet can vary depending on the availability of different seagrass species. The Dugong’s powerful lips and large tongue are adapted for grazing on seagrass, and they use their mobile upper lip to pull seagrass towards their mouth.
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