# Dugong (*Dugong dugon*)

> 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.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Vulnerable
- **Range:** Shallow coastal waters and seagrass meadows from East Africa through the Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, and Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia and northern Australia.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/dugong/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Sirenia
- **Family:** Dugongidae
- **Genus:** Dugong

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Dugong dugon |
| Diet | Herbivore — seagrasses and algae |
| Habitat | Shallow coastal waters, bays, and seagrass meadows of the Indo-Pacific |
| Lifespan | 70+ years; slow reproduction |
| Weight | 230–400 kg (500–880 lb); males and females similar |
| Top speed | Up to 10 km/h (6 mph) swimming |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable (IUCN) |

## Seagrass gardener

Dugongs crop seagrass with stiff bristled lips, preferring certain species and leaving tell-tale feeding trails across meadows. Healthy dugong populations indicate productive seagrass ecosystems that also support fish, turtles, and coastal fisheries.

## Sirenian relatives

Dugongs are the only living sirenians in the Indo-Pacific; manatees occupy the Atlantic. Their closest land relatives are elephants. Females produce a single calf after a 13–14 month gestation, nursing for up to 18 months — a slow reproductive rate that limits recovery from population declines.

## Cultural significance

Indigenous Australian communities and coastal peoples across the Indo-Pacific have long hunted dugongs for meat and oil, with cultural protocols in many areas. Today legal harvest, accidental drowning in fishing nets, and habitat degradation threaten remaining herds.

## Conservation priorities

Listed Vulnerable, dugongs benefit from marine protected areas, speed limits for boats, and seagrass restoration. The Great Barrier Reef and Arabian Gulf hold significant populations. Entanglement in gillnets remains a leading cause of death in Southeast Asia.

## Frequently asked questions

### Dugong vs manatee — what is the difference?

Dugongs have fluked whale-like tails and live in the Indo-Pacific. Manatees have paddle-shaped tails and live in the Atlantic and adjacent rivers.

### Are dugongs mermaids?

Sailors' accounts of mermaids may have been inspired partly by dugongs and manatees surfacing in calm seas — though the resemblance is much debated.

### What do dugongs eat?

Almost exclusively seagrass, consuming up to 40 kg daily. They avoid areas where seagrass is sparse or polluted.

### Where can you see dugongs?

Shallow waters off Australia (especially Queensland), the Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, and parts of Southeast Asia and East Africa where seagrass meadows remain healthy.

### Are dugongs endangered?

Listed Vulnerable globally. Some regional populations are severely depleted; slow breeding makes recovery difficult.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Dugong dugon.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Dugong%20dugon&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Dugong dugon. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dugong_dugon/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/dugong/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.