All you need to know about this herbivorous marine mammal
What is a dugong?
Dugongs are large, stout, herbivorous, marine mammals. They have short paddle-like front flippers and a mouth turned downwards to graze on seagrass beds easily. They have a pair of tusks, formed by incisor teeth. They do not have a dorsal fin but have a fluked or forked dolphin-like tail.
Why are dugong called sea cow?
Dugongs are called sea cow due to their large bodies and their diet of seagrass, primarily of the Halophila and Halodule varieties.
What are the threats to dugongs?
Dugongs are threatened by seagrass habitat destruction, plastic pollution and marine debris, entanglement in fishing nets, coastla development (dredging, construction and sewage) and boat traffic. They are vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
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