The dugong, also known as the sea cow, is adapted for life in the sea with a streamlined body, wedge-shaped tail and strong flippers . As air-breathing mammals, dugongs must return to the surface every five to 10 minutes.
How do dugongs protect themselves?
Like another relative, the elephant, dugongs have tusks, though these are usually only exposed in older animals. This means the animals protect themselves from predators, such as sharks, by simply turning their backs on them . Advertisement. Yet for such a large animal, dugongs can move quickly when needed.
How many dugongs are left in the wild?
The number of dugongs all over the lndo-Pacific region may be roughly 30,000 animals . populations 4 and 5 seem to be near to desperation.
What are the strengths of the dugong?
Due to their docile nature and relative lack of defenses , a single dugong can make a tempting target for a number of hungry predators. Their one true defense is their immense size, which allows them to fend off all but the largest creatures such as sharks, crocodiles, and killer whales that patrol the coasts.
How long can dugongs hold their breath?
Dugongs breathe in oxygen from above the surface of the water through there nostrils, a dugong can hold its breath for up to 11 minutes and dive up to 33 metres to feed.
Is dugong extinct?
The dugong’s current distribution is fragmented, and many populations are believed to be close to extinction . The IUCN lists the dugong as a species vulnerable to extinction, while the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species limits or bans the trade of derived products.
Is a dugong a whale?
Dugongs are large grey mammals which spend their entire lives in the sea. ... Dugongs swim by moving their broad whale-like tail in an up and down motion, and by use of their two flippers. They come to the surface to breathe through nostrils near the top of their snouts. Dugongs’ only hairs are the bristles near the mouth.
Has a manatee ever killed a human?
According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, approximately 99 manatee deaths each year are related to human activities. In January 2016, there were 43 manatee deaths in Florida alone.
Can you eat dugong?
The dugong was a prized source of oil, hide, and meat , and charcoal from their bones was used in sugar refining. The practice was banned in 1965, apart from a limited catch by indigenous Australians, who used dugongs as a food source since before the arrival of European settlers.
Can dugongs fight?
Life in the sea
They have a rounded head with small eyes and a large snout. The nostrils are at the top of the snout and can be closed diving to keep the water out. As with all other marine mammals, dugongs must surface to breathe. ... During the mating season, male dugongs use their tusks to fight each other .
Why are dugongs dying?
Dugongs are threatened by sea grass habitat loss or degradation because of coastal development or industrial activities that cause water pollution. ... This makes the conservation of their shallow water marine habitat very important. They also often become victims of bycatch, the accidental entanglement in fishing nets.
Is dugong a manatee?
Dugongs (Dugong dugong) are closely related to manatees and are the fourth species under the order sirenia. Unlike manatees, dugongs have a fluked tail, similar to a whale’s, and a large snout with an upper lip that protrudes over their mouth and bristles instead of whiskers.
Do sharks eat dugongs?
The dugong is a species of sea cow found throughout the warm latitudes of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. ... Adult dugongs do not have any natural predators , but juveniles may be eaten by saltwater crocodiles, killer whales, and large, coastal sharks.
Can dugongs hurt humans?
Dugongs are highly vulnerable to human impacts , due to their life history and dependence on easily-damaged coastal seagrass beds. Additional threats include loss of and damage to seagrass beds, incidental catches in fishing nets, and captures in shark nets set to protect bathing beaches.
What do you call a baby dugong?
The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a large mammal that lives its whole life in the sea. They are sometimes called “sea cows” as they eat large amounts of sea grass. They live in warm, shallow areas where the sea grass grows. ... A baby dugong is called a calf .
Where do dugongs sleep?
Our female sleeps on the surface and naturally wild dugongs sleep on the bottom . This is one of the reasons she wasn’t released, because she could be hit by boat or be a prime target for a shark because her belly would be so exposed and she’s quite vulnerable sitting at the surface.”
