A serene and enigmatic marine mammal, it is often affectionately referred to as a “sea cow,” drawing a parallel with terrestrial cows due to its gentle grazing habits. This remarkable creature boasts tough, thick, and smooth skin that undergoes a significant transformation as it matures; while newborns are adorned with a pale cream hue, adults display a deep slate grey on their backs and sides.
A unique feature of the Dugong is the sparse coverage of hair across its body, with distinctive bristles located on their muzzle. This feature plays a crucial role in their interaction with their surroundings, enhancing their tactile sense. The Dugong’s large and rounded snout, complemented by flexible upper lips that curve downwards, is not merely a distinctive physical trait but a critical adaptation for their feeding habits. These upper lips are highly adapted for grazing, allowing Dugongs to delicately snatch entire seagrass plants from the seabed.
Dugongs exhibit a fascinating and meticulous approach to feeding. Before consuming the seagrass, they engage in a behavior where they shake their heads vigorously to dislodge sand from the plants, ensuring that they ingest only the nutritious parts of their diet. This careful selection process underscores the Dugong’s dependency on seagrass meadows for sustenance. As they feed, they leave behind distinctive furrows in the seabed, a telltale sign of their presence and grazing activity. These furrows not only highlight the feeding patterns of Dugongs but also serve as indicators of the health and density of seagrass beds within their habitats.
Distribution
Australia
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Brunei
Cambodia
China
Cocos Is. (Keeling)
Comoros
Djibouti
East Timor
Egypt
Eritrea
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Kuwait
Madagascar
Malaysia
Maldives
Official estimate
Mauritius
Official estimate
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mozambique
Myanmar
New Caledonia
Oman
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Seychelles
Singapore
Solomon Islands
Somalia
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Taiwan
Official estimate
Tanzania
Thailand
UAE
Vanuatu
Vietnam
YemenAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
