dugong
Sign in to saveThe dugong (; Dugong dugon) is a marine mammal. It is one of four living species of the order Sirenia, which also includes three species of manatees. It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest modern relative, Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas), was hunted to extinction in the 18th century.
AI overview
A dugong is a marine mammal related to manatees, and it's the last surviving member of a family that once included many more species, particularly after its closest relative, Steller's sea cow, was hunted to extinction in the 1700s. Because it represents a unique branch of an ancient group of sea mammals, the dugong is scientifically significant as a living link to evolutionary history.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Species
dugong
Species
- PhylumChordata
- ClassMammalia
- OrderSirenia
- FamilyDugongidae
Habitatmarine
via
Article
20 sectionsContents
- Evolution
- Etymology and taxonomy
- Anatomy and morphology
- Distribution and habitat
- Australia
- Persian Gulf
- East Africa and South Asia
- Southeast Asia and the West Pacific
- Northern Pacific
- Extinct Mediterranean population
- Ecology and life history
- Feeding
- Reproduction and parental care
- Importance to humans
- Conservation
- Human activity
- Environmental degradation
- Capture and captivity
- References
- External links
The dugong (; Dugong dugon) is a marine mammal. It is one of four living species of the order Sirenia, which also includes three species of manatees. It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest modern relative, Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas), was hunted to extinction in the 18th century.
The dugong is the only sirenian in its range, which spans the waters of some 40 countries and territories throughout the Indo-West Pacific. The dugong is largely dependent on seagrass communities for subsistence and is thus restricted to the coastal habitats that support seagrass meadows, with the largest dugong concentrations typically occurring in wide, shallow, protected areas, such as bays, mangrove channels, the waters of large inshore islands, and inter-reefal waters. The northern waters of Australia between Shark Bay and Moreton Bay are believed to be the dugong's contemporary stronghold.