Category:Dugong

Du*gong", n. Etym: [Malayan d, or Javan. duyung.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An aquatic herbivorous mammal (Halicore dugong), of the order Sirenia, allied to the manatee, but with a bilobed tail. It inhabits the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, East Indies, and Australia. [Written also duyong - its Malayan name.]

The dugong is the only ocean dwelling herbivorous mammal. The nose and head are shaped similar to that of a manatee, although manatees are typically freshwater mammals that only occasionally wander into saltwater areas. The dugong tail is similar to a dolphin tail. They do not have toenails on their flippers as do manatees. Since they only have a few molars in the back of the upper jaw and a pair of incisors in the front of the upper jaw, they masticate seagrass species with rough pads on their upper and lower palates. They forage in shallow waters primarily because they do not have the ability to be submerged for long periods of time and because they dig into the seabed to get roots of the seagrass which contain carbohydrate rich rhizomes.

They can live up to 50 years, but rarely produce more than 5 or 6 offspring during their lifetime. They usually live a solitary life unless they have a calf, which remains with a mother for about 3 years.

They have dense bones, fast clotting blood, and thick skin, which all help increase their survival rate.