| dugong (Dugong dugon) |
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.
Dugongs graze on underwater grasses day and
night, rooting for them with their bristled, sensitive
snouts and chomping them with their rough lips.
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.
Dugongs graze on underwater grasses day and
night, rooting for them with their bristled, sensitive
snouts and chomping them with their rough lips.
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These mammals can stay underwater for six
breathe by "standing" on their tail with their
Dugongs spend much of their time alone or
in pairs, though they are sometimes seen
gathered in large herds of a hundred
animals.
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.
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 now legally protected
throughout their range, but their populations
are still in a tenuous state.
Some believe that dugongs were the
inspiration for ancient seafaring tales of
mermaids and sirens
breathe by "standing" on their tail with their
Dugongs spend much of their time alone or
in pairs, though they are sometimes seen
gathered in large herds of a hundred
animals.
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.
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 now legally protected
throughout their range, but their populations
are still in a tenuous state.
Some believe that dugongs were the
inspiration for ancient seafaring tales of
mermaids and sirens
with thanks to Wikipedia
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