© Istockphoto.com / WWF
Dugongs
Dugongs are cousins of manatees and share a similar plump appearance, but have a dolphin fluke-like tail. And unlike manatees, which use freshwater areas, the dugong is strictly a marine mammal. Commonly known as "sea cows," dugongs graze peacefully on sea grasses in shallow coastal waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.
Dugong facts
- Status View status categories and descriptions
- Vulnerable
- Scientific name
- Dugong dugon
- Weight
- over 800 pounds
- Length
- nearly 10 feet
- Habitats
- Oceans
News and stories
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The heartwarming story of how a dugong family inspired a community to protect an important bay
Why dugongs matter
© Andrey Nekrasov / WWF
Dugongs have become an important tourist attraction. Tourists can swim with them or observe them from boats.
Threats to dugongs
© Jürgen Freund / WWF
Dugongs are threatened by sea grass habitat loss or degradation because of coastal development or industrial activities that cause water pollution. If there is not enough sea grass to eat then the dugong does not breed normally. This makes the conservation of their shallow water marine habitat very important. They also often become victims of bycatch, the accidental entanglement in fishing nets.
How you can help
© George Walsh
Strengthen the Endangered Species Act
More than 99% of the species listed under the Endangered Species Act have avoided extinction due to the law’s protections. Today, those protections are under threat — at the exact moment wildlife needs them most.