Dugongs vs Manatees: What's the Difference?

How are Dugongs and Manatees similar? 

Both, Dugongs and Manatees are known as sea cows since they are mammals, have herbivorous diets and are large in size with gentle demeanours. They both have sensory hair or bristles on their snout which help them in detecting food. Dugongs and Manatees are both vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, facing threats from habitat destruction, boat collisions, fishing nets, hunting, pollution and climate change. 

What is the birthing cycle of a Dugong? 

Dugongs give birth to one calf every 3-7 years. 

What is the birthing cycle of a Manatee? 

Manatees give birth to one calf every 2-5 years. 

Where are Dugongs found? 

Dugongs are found in the coastal waters of Indo-Pacific, ranging from the Indian Ocean, East Africa and the Pacific East of Australia. 

Where are Manatees found? 

Manatees are found in parts of the Atlantic Ocean (more specifically the Carribean and the Gulf of Mexico), Amazon River and the West African coast. 

Do Dugongs and Manatees look alike? 

Dugongs have long, downward-facing, 'trunk-like' snouts which are specialised for bottom feeding and their tails are fluked making it look 'dolphin-like'. Meanwhile, Manatees have a shorter, broader snout with a divided lip adapted for picking diverse vegetation. Their tails are paddle-like: flattened and round.