What is a dugong?
A dugong is a large marine mammal that grazes on seagrass in warm, shallow coastal waters. Australia's northern coasts are home to most of the world's dugongs.
Dugongs can grow to about three metres long and weigh up to around 400 kilograms. They have a rounded body, paddle-like flippers and a whale-like fluked tail. Their downturned snout is covered in bristles that help them uproot seagrass.
Because they feed almost only on seagrass, dugongs are often called sea cows. They leave feeding trails across seagrass meadows and can eat around 40 kilograms of plants a day.
Where to see them
Important populations live in Shark Bay, the Torres Strait, Moreton Bay near Brisbane, the Great Barrier Reef and the Gulf of Carpentaria. Shark Bay alone has around 10,000 dugongs.
Dugongs are long-lived, slow-breeding animals. Females may have a calf only every three to seven years, so populations recover slowly from losses.
Threats include boat strikes, fishing nets, pollution and loss of seagrass after floods and cyclones. Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal communities manage traditional hunting under community plans.
Did You Know?
Dugongs are related to elephants, sharing a distant common ancestor.