Is a dugong a whale?

Is a dugong a whale?

Dugongs are large grey mammals which spend their entire lives in the sea. Dugongs swim by moving their broad whale-like tail in an up and down motion, and by use of their two flippers. They come to the surface to breathe through nostrils near the top of their snouts. Dugongs’ only hairs are the bristles near the mouth.

What is the biggest dugong in the world?

The largest individual recorded was 4.06 metres (13.32 ft) long and weighed 1,016 kilograms (2,240 lb), and was found off the Saurashtra coast of west India. Females tend to be larger than males.

Which is bigger manatee or dugong?

#2 Body size – Manatees can grow up to 4 metres/13 feet long, whereas dugongs rarely get larger than 3 metres/9.8 feet long. #3 Tail shape – Dugong tails have flukes and look similar to whale or dolphin tales. Manatees have a paddle-shaped tail.

Is dugong the same as manatee?

Dugongs (Dugong dugong) are closely related to manatees and are the fourth species under the order sirenia. Unlike manatees, dugongs have a fluked tail, similar to a whale’s, and a large snout with an upper lip that protrudes over their mouth and bristles instead of whiskers.

Can dugongs and manatees mate?

Both manatees and dugongs are primarily solitary animals but have very different approaches when it comes to partners. Manatees are devout polygamists. A male manatee can have several female partners. Dugongs, on the other hand, have only one mate, and they live as a couple for life.

Can manatees live on land?

Manatees never go on land. Manatees don’t always need to breathe. As they swim, they poke their nose up above the water’s surface to catch a few breaths every few minutes. If they are simply resting, they can stay under the water for 15 minutes without taking a breath, according to National Geographic.

Can you hug a manatee?

According to the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act, it is illegal to molest, harass, disturb or—as Waterman found out—hug a manatee. Manatees, however, are quite sensitive, and manatee biologist Thomas Reinert told Reuters that Waterman’s actions could have induced severe stress in the young calf.

Do manatee eat humans?

They don’t prey on humans and are not dangerous to swim with.

What is the average weight for a dugong?

The average weight for dugongs is 420kg (926lb). Sexual dimorphism is present in this species as females are larger than males. The dugong is an omnivore. Almost their entire diet is made up of sea grass which they spend the majority of the day foraging for. In some areas they will also seek out invertebrates including sea squirts and jelly fish.

What is the Diet of a dugong?

Diet and Nutrition. Dugong is an herbivorous animal, which primarily feeds upon seagrass and marine algae, complementing its diet with shellfish and sea squirts, found in seagrass , as well as various invertebrates, including polychaete worms.

How long can a dugong live?

Dugongs may live for 70 years or more and are slow breeders. Female dugongs do not begin breeding until between seven and seventeen years old and calve once every three to six years, although this is variable between individuals and depends on environmental conditions.

Where are dugongs found?

Dugong Habitat. The Dugongs are mostly found in the east coast of Africa to the western Pacific Ocean which consists of warm coastal waters with an estimated 86,992 miles or 140,000 kilometers of coastline. Today the dugong population is found in the waters of thirty-seven countries.