{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "dugong",
  "name": "Dugong",
  "scientificName": "Dugong dugon",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "The dugong is a large marine mammal that grazes seagrass meadows in warm coastal waters from East Africa to Australia. Adults reach 2.5–3 m (8–10 ft) and 230–400 kg (500–880 lb), surface to breathe every few minutes, and are listed Vulnerable due to boat strikes, net entanglement, and seagrass loss.",
  "conservationStatus": "Vulnerable",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Sirenia",
    "family": "Dugongidae",
    "genus": "Dugong"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 300,
    "lengthM": 2.8,
    "topSpeedKmh": 10,
    "lifespanYears": 70
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Dugong dugon"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Herbivore — seagrasses and algae"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Shallow coastal waters, bays, and seagrass meadows of the Indo-Pacific"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "70+ years; slow reproduction"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "230–400 kg (500–880 lb); males and females similar"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 10 km/h (6 mph) swimming"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Vulnerable (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Shallow coastal waters and seagrass meadows from East Africa through the Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, and Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia and northern Australia.",
    "continents": [
      "Africa",
      "Asia",
      "Oceania"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Dugong dugon.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Dugong%20dugon&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Dugong dugon. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dugong_dugon/"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/dugong/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/dugong/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}