Welcome to the World of Dugongs
Dugongs
Dugong dugon
Also known as: Sea cow
Average lifespan: 60–70 years
Primary habitat: Coastal waters, seagrass meadows
Geographic range: Indo-Pacific region, from East Africa to Australia
Overview
The dugong is a large, gentle marine mammal that feeds almost exclusively on seagrass. Closely related to manatees, it spends most of its life grazing along shallow coastlines. Dugongs are slow-moving and long-lived, making them especially vulnerable to human activity.
What It Looks Like
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Large, rounded body with smooth gray skin
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Paddle-like front flippers
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Broad, whale-like tail fluke
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Downturned snout adapted for grazing
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Sparse body hair and thick skin
How It Behaves
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Mostly solitary or found in small groups
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Active during both day and night
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Moves slowly while grazing
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Communicates using soft sounds and body movement
What It Eats
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Seagrass almost exclusively
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Pulls plants up by the roots
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Strictly herbivorous
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Can consume large amounts of vegetation daily
Life Cycle
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Breeding occurs year-round
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Gestation lasts about 13–15 months
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Females give birth to a single calf
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Calves stay with their mother for several years
Survival Skills
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Efficient digestion of tough plant material
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Thick skin for protection
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Large body size deters some predators
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Long lifespan with slow reproduction
Fast Facts
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One of only four living species of sirenians
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Can weigh over 900 pounds
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Inspired ancient mermaid legends
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Rarely enters freshwater
Conservation
Dugongs are crucial to coastal marine ecosystems because they graze seagrass meadows, helping keep these habitats healthy, productive, and able to support fisheries and store carbon. They are threatened by habitat loss, boat strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, pollution, and the decline of seagrass due to coastal development and climate change. Conservation efforts focus on protecting seagrass habitats, regulating coastal activities, reducing bycatch, and community-based conservation programs to help stabilize dugong populations and the ecosystems they depend on.​