PHYLUM: Chordata
CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Sirenia
FAMILY: Dugongidae
GENUS: Dugong
SPECIES: dugon
TOOTHED or TOOTHLESS (BALEEN): Toothed
FRESHWATER, SALTERWATER or BRACKISH: Saltwater
HABITAT: Along the coast of the western Pacific and Indian ocean where seagrass is abundant.
LENGTH (maximum): 11-14 Ft
WEIGHT (maximum): 2,200 lbs
SIZE COMPARISON:
RELATIVE SPECIES: Stellar’s sea cow(extinct), manatees.
OTHER NAMES: Sea cow, sea pig, sea camel.
NEIGHBORING SPECIES: Finless porpoise, Irrawaddy dolphin.
PREDATORS: Humans, sharks, killer whales.
THREATS: Trapped in nets, oil spills, hunted for meat.
DIET: Seagrass
MANNER OF FEEDING: Feeds on bottom vegetation, often leaving a trail of cropped sea grass.
BEHAVIOR: Form small groups of around 6. Moves very slowly.
REPRODUCTION: When mating, a group of males will surround the female and will all attempt to mate with her at the same time. Gestation is 12-14 months. Calves are weaned at 18 months but may stay with their mothers for several years. Females have a calf every 2-7 years.
LIFE SPAN:
- 73 years
COOL/GROSS/WEIRD:
- The only member of its family left. Has small tusks. It is believed that it related to the Elephant.
SOURCES:
- Knopf, Alfred A. Guide to Marine Mammals of the World.Random House. 2002
- NOAA
-TSF-
