Dugongs are only found in the Indo-west Pacific, between about 26 and 27 degrees north and south of the equator, as they need water temperatures above 18 degrees Celcius to survive.
What climate does a dugong live in?
Dugongs occur in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. Dugongs are large grey mammals which spend their entire lives in the sea. Fully grown, they may be three metres long and weigh 400 kilograms.
How long can dugongs stay underwater?
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.
What type of water do dugongs live in?
Dugongs live only in coastal waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans from east Africa to the Red Sea and Australia.
Where can I see dugongs in Australia?
Dugongs, Coral Coast and Ningaloo Reef, Australia
Shark Bay and to a lesser extent Ningaloo marine park are the two places on Australia's west coast you have the best chances to see Dugongs out in the wild. Shark Bay is one of the world's largest population of this endangered mammal species.
How many dugong are left?
The Persian Gulf has the second-largest dugong population in the world, inhabiting most of the southern coast, and the current population is believed to range from 5,800 to 7,300 .
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.
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.”
Can dugongs and manatees mate?
Both manatees and dugongs are primarily solitary animals but have very different approaches when it comes to partners. Manatees are devout polygamists. A male manatee can have several female partners. ... Dugongs , on the other hand, have only one mate, and they live as a couple for life.
What is the closest relative to a manatee?
Despite the nickname “sea cow,” manatees are more closely related to another four-legged mammal. It has been suggested that manatees evolved from four-legged land mammals over millions of years, and that the closest relative to today's manatees is elephants .
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.
Are Manatees the same as dugongs?
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.
What is a group of dugongs called?
Group Name: Herd . Average Life Span In The Wild: 70 years. Size: 8 to 10 feet. Weight: 510 to 1,100 pounds.
How do you spot a dugong?
If you look closely you may see all the whiskers (vibrissae) around their mouth . Next, you may see a broad back break the water's surface. If you see long scratches along the back, you have most likely spotted an adult female dugong.
Can you swim with dugongs?
Swimming with dugongs is possible, although rare . Because of their endangered status, they aren't simply out in the wild to experience when swimming at the beach. Even though they are rare, swimming with dugongs is generally at Shark Bay, specifically in Ningaloo Reef or Ningaloo Marine Park.
What are manatees called in Australia?
It is known as the balguja by the Wunambal people of the Mitchell Plateau area in the Kimberley, Western Australia. Dugong dugon is the only extant species of the family Dugongidae, and one of only four extant species of the Sirenia order, the others forming the manatee family.
