Wildlifeof China
Dugong
Whales, Dolphins & Dugong
Photo: (c) Eddie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY
Dugong dugon
Basic stats
Diet
Seagrasses
Habitat
Shallow coastal bays, channels and seagrass meadows
Range
Coastal Indo-Pacific from East Africa to the western Pacific
Litter size
1
Gestation period
Approximately 13–14 months
Size
Approximately 2.4–3m
Weight
Approximately 230–500kg
The dugong is a large marine herbivore with a rounded body, paddle-like forelimbs and a whale-like fluked tail. Its downturned, muscular muzzle is adapted for cropping vegetation from the seabed. Adults are generally 2.4–3m long and weigh approximately 230–500kg. The species occupies warm Indo-Pacific coasts from East Africa to the western Pacific. (Wikipedia, general species account)
Dugongs depend on shallow coastal seagrass meadows, where they leave recognizable feeding trails while uprooting or cropping plants. They may occur alone, in mother-calf pairs or in larger aggregations where forage is abundant. Females normally bear one calf after a gestation of approximately 13–14 months, and the calf remains closely associated with its mother. (Wikipedia, general species account)
Quick answers
- What does the Dugong eat?
- Seagrasses
- What habitat does the Dugong live in?
- Shallow coastal bays, channels and seagrass meadows
- Where is the Dugong found?
- Coastal Indo-Pacific from East Africa to the western Pacific
- What is the litter size of the Dugong?
- 1
- How long is the gestation period of the Dugong?
- Approximately 13–14 months
- How big is the Dugong?
- Approximately 2.4–3m
- How much does the Dugong weigh?
- Approximately 230–500kg