GRAZERS OF THE OCEAN

COMMON NAME: Dugong

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Dugong dugon

TYPE: Mammals

DIET: Herbivore

GROUP NAME: Herd

AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 70 years

SIZE: 2.5 to 4 meters

WEIGHT: 230 to 500 kg

From one weird reptile, the gharial, now here comes a much funnier looking mammal, the dugong. These enormous vegetarians can be found in warm coastal waters from East Africa to Australia, including the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Pacific.

Dugongs are related to manatees and are similar in appearance and behavior— though the dugong's tail is fluked like a whale's. Both are related to the elephant, although the giant land animal is not at all similar in appearance or behavior.

Some believe that dugongs were the inspiration for ancient seafaring tales of mermaids and sirens do to their appearance.

Underwater Behavior

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 minutes before surfacing. They sometimes breathe by “standing” on their tail with their heads above water. Dugongs spend much of their time alone or in pairs, though they are sometimes seen gathered in large herds of a hundred animals.

Reproduction and Conservation

Female dugongs have one calf after a yearlong pregnancy, and the mother helps her young reach the surface and take its first breath. A young dugong remains close to its mother for about 18 months, sometimes catching a ride on her broad back.

Threats

These languid animals make an easy target for coastal hunters, and they were long sought for their meat, oil, skin, bones, and teeth.

Dugongs are threatened by sea grass habitat loss or degradation because of coastal development or industrial activities that cause water pollution. If there is not enough sea grass to eat then the dugong does not breed normally. This makes the conservation of their shallow water marine habitat very important. They also often become victims of accidental entanglement in fishing nets.

Dugongs are now legally protected throughout their range, but their populations are still declining. Countries such as the UAE which is reclaiming land from the sea have stayed clear of dugong populated areas and actually use them as a tool for conservation education to locals. Tourists even get a chance to swim with them and observe them in their natural environment