dugongs

The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a large marine mammal in the order Sirenia and the sole living member of the genus Dugong. Commonly called the sea cow, it has a robust, gray-brown body, paddle-like forelimbs, and a horizontally flattened tail. Its snout is downturned and adapted for grazing on underwater seagrass beds. Dugongs lack a dorsal fin and have a subtle, streamlined shape for slow, steady swimming.

Distribution and habitat: Dugongs inhabit warm, shallow coastal waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans, ranging from eastern Africa and the Red Sea to Australia and parts of Southeast Asia. They depend on extensive seagrass meadows in bays, lagoons, and mangrove channels and are most common in calm, sheltered environments.

Diet and ecology: Dugongs are herbivores that feed primarily on seagrass. They graze by day and night, using their snouts to pull grasses from the sediment. Seagrass loss and degradation of coastal habitats can reduce their food sources and shelter, affecting populations.

Behavior and reproduction: Dugongs are usually solitary or form small, loosely associated groups. They surface to breathe every few minutes while resting and can remain submerged for several minutes while feeding. They have long lifespans, with late sexual maturity and extended calving intervals, giving birth to a single calf after a lengthy gestation. Calves nurse for extended periods and remain with mothers for many months.

Conservation status: Dugongs are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Major threats include habitat destruction, seagrass decline, bycatch in fishing gear, boat strikes, and hunting in some regions. Conservation efforts emphasize habitat protection and restoration, as well as reducing bycatch and protecting coastal ecosystems.

Taxonomy: Dugong dugon, family Dugongidae, order Sirenia; closely related to the manatees (Trichechidae).