🏷️
Classification
Mammal
🍽️
Diet
Herbivore
⏱️
Lifespan
50–70 years
⚖️
Weight
200–420 kg
Population Trend
📉Decreasing
Description
The only strictly herbivorous marine mammal, grazing on seagrass meadows in warm coastal waters.
Habitat
🌿 shallow coastal waters🌿 seagrass meadows
Extended Data
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Sirenia
Family
Dugongidae
Genus
Dugong
Fun Facts
1
The only strictly herbivorous marine mammal in existence.
2
Closely related to manatees — together they make up the order Sirenia.
3
May have inspired ancient mermaid legends.
4
Can hold their breath for up to 6 minutes while feeding on seagrass.
5
Slow reproduction rate — one calf every 2.5 to 7 years.