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Dugong
Order : Sirenia
Family : Dugongidae
Genus : Dugong
Facts about the genus Dugong, the dugong
Unlike the manatees, the tail of the dugong is "fluked", resembling that of whales and dolphins.
Adult dugong are dark grey animals about the size of a cow: a big female may be up to 3 metres in length and weigh some 400 kg.
by Bish Brown The dugong is a large mammal inhabiting silty inlets offshore from Abu Dhabi.
Despite this lack of vigorous activity, dugong are legendary for their longevity -- they can live for more than 70 years.
Limitations of Conservation Strategy Dugong is a long-lived animal with a life span of up to 70 years, a minimum pre-reproductive period of 9-10 years, and an estimated mean calving interval of 3-7 years.
The tears of the dugong are believed to be an aphrodisiac.
"The truth is that dugong are not critically endangered . (Full text)
"Dugong are called sea cows for good reason," Mr Loveday said. (Full text)
Conservation of dugong is needed because they are part of the ecosystem and contribute to the fertility of the sea. (Full text)
Although scientists often lump sirenians together with the order Cetacea (whales and dolphins) as totally aquatic marine mammals, manatees and the dugong are actually more closely related to elephants, hyraxes, and aardvarks! (Full text)
Like other large marine mammals, the dugong are at serious risk of extinction, so much so that the United Nations predicts they could disappear within 25 years. (Full text)
Any harm done on the dugong is now punishable by law. (Full text)
• Throughout much of its range, the dugong is believed to be represented by relict populations separated by large areas where its numbers have been greatly reduced or where it is already extirpated. (Full text)
Dugong are naturally shy animals, and are usually very difficult to locate in the Bay. (Full text)