At the back of the book you’ll also find some valuable dugong facts to go through with the kids. Predators The main predators of Dugongs are sharks, killer whales and crocodiles. Dugongs rarely communicate visually, due to their poor eyesight. Check out our Great Barrier Reef facts for kids. Dugong are part of the Sirenia order of animals, which are often known as "sea cows". Quick facts. A Truly Marine Mammal – Dugongs are the only species in the order Sirenia (dugongs and manatees) that lives in an exclusively marine environment. Taiwan: there is a lot of evidence that the dugong is practically extinct here. There was one other modern member — Steller’s sea cow; a huge, slow-swimming northern Pacific mammal that ate seaweed and may have reached weights of up to 10 tonnes. Herds of 100–200 dugongs, however, are sometimes seen, with 450 being the maximum recorded. There are lots of fun facts about the dugong. Great Barrier Reef Facts. So we wanted to give a shoutout to their cousin - the dugong! Dugongs are more closely related to elephants than other marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins. The dugong is a medium-sized marine mammal who is the only surviving representative of the Dugongidae family. Dugongs can live up to 70 years. They come to the surface to breathe through nostrils Dugong will eat algae in addition to it's primary diet of sea grasses. It is believed that dugongs and the closely related manatees were sometimes mistaken for the legendary Greek mythological figures, the sirens, by some European sailors traveling far from home. 2. Dugongs are large grey mammals which spend their entire lives in the sea. A female is 10 before she has her first calf and will only reproduce every three to seven years, caring for a single calf for two years or more. It derives its name from the Malay language, where duyung means “lady of the sea” or “mermaid”. Dugong Facts & Trivia for kids The Dugong is a large marine mammal which is related to the manatee. Dugong Facts. 7 facts about dugongs! A contributing factor to the reason dugongs are an endangered species is because of the gestation period and the late age of sexual maturity. 28 Mar 2018. THE DUGONG IS the only surviving species in the family Dugongidae. May 15, 2020 at 11:34 am ADOPT A DUGONG. It is one of four living species of the order Sirenia, which also includes three species of manatees. A blog about animals to help educate kids about wildlife Menu. Dugongs reach adult size between 4 and 17 years of age. Skip to content. Dugongs grow to a maximum length of 13 feet (4 m) long and weight of 595 pounds (270 kg). To communicate dugongs use chirps, whistles and barks. The Dugong is a large, grey brown bulbous animal with a flattened fluked tail, like that of a whale, no dorsal fin, paddle like flippers and distinctive head shape. Dugongs swim by moving their broad whale-like tail in an up and down motion, and by use of their two flippers. [toc] Dugongs occur in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. Range of color options. They are also threatened by pollution, poor water quality and collision with boats. Dugong & divers. Dugongs are related to manatees and are similar in appearance and behavior— though the dugong’s tail is fluked like a whale’s.Both are related to the elephant, although the giant land animal is not at all similar in appearance or behavior. Download the teacher notes to extend learning beyond the book. The Dugong is a large, grey brown bulbous animal with a flattened fluked tail, like that of a whale, no dorsal fin, paddle like flippers and distinctive head shape. To find out more about dugongs, grab a copy of issue 118 (Jan/Feb 2014) of Australian Geographic. 1. Although the age of sexual maturity of Dugongs is usually 9 or 10 years, sometimes it takes 15 years for a Dugong to reach its sexual maturity. #Dugong facts. They may have been mistaken for mermaids as well. Dugong are part of the Sirenia order of animals, which are often known as "sea cows". The incidental and deliberate capture of dugongs in artisanal fisheries is one of the most serious and widespread threats to the dugong’s survival. Instead, they use sounds and physical touch. When under stress, females respond by producing fewer young, further stalling population growth. The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a medium-sized marine mammal. The dugong (/ ˈ dj uː ɡ ɒ ŋ /; Dugong dugon) is a medium-sized marine mammal.It is one of four living species of the order Sirenia, which also includes three species of manatees.It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest modern relative, Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas), was hunted to extinction in the 18th century. Soft and durable One-Piece - Short Sleeve kids clothing. Dugongs as a result have adapted in response to this change and have learnt to travel long distances to warmer parts of the ocean, even if this means in deeper areas. Research and tracking of dugongs have shown that Dugongs travel over 100km to warmer part of that bay during winter and then eventually return to their original bays during the warmer seasons. Commercial gillnet fishing is a major threat to dugongs along Australia’s eastern coastline. Keywords. Dugong Magic. Its closest living relatives are the manatees. Dugong – Facts, Pictures, Habitat, Characteristics. DUGONG. A dugong can remain underwater for up to 6 minutes. Dugong Kids Clothing by The Sleepy Monito. Dugong is a marine mammal that swims around warm tropical waters. Dugongs are referred to as sea cows because they use their strong, cleft upper lips to graze on sea grasses they uproot from the seafloor. Dugong list of facts is made of finely balanced population parameters. A more common amount of time though is 2 ½ minutes. 5 Incredible Dugong Facts. Dugongs differ from their closest living relative, the manatee, in a number of ways. THE SEA-GRASS plains of Moreton Bay, off the coast of Queensland, is home to one of Australia’s largest populations of dugong. The legend of the mermaid is based upon sightings by sailors of dugongs. Earthrace Conservation . Kids; A-Z; Dugongs. Dugongs can reach 17 years of age before they start to breed and when they do they will only reproduce every 3 - 7 years. Learn about the amazing marine life, where the Great Barrier Reef is, how climate change could affect it and much more. Fun Facts About Dugongs. Sadly, these beautiful and rare marine mammals need your help. The legends of mermaids are believed to have originated when sailors viewed dugongs and manatees … Most dugongs are concentrated around northern Australia, while they are also found throughout the Indo-Pacific tropics. Enjoy a range of colourful pictures, interesting information and fun trivia related to the largest coral reef system in the world. Dugongs only give birth every 3-7 years, and live for up to 70 years. A female dugong gives birth to only one calf every 3 or 7 years. 4. Unlike other marine mammals, dugongs cannot hold their breath under water for very long. These days, dugongs are under pressure from other activities, such as loss of habitat, boat traffic and being caught in fishing nets. Home; About Hayden; Amphibians; Birds; Fish; Invertebrates – Land; Invertebrates – Water ; Mammals; Reptiles; 5 Interesting Facts About Dugongs. 3. This is the reason why their order was given the name Sirenia. Fully grown, they may be three metres long and weigh 400 kilograms. Being a marine herbivorous mammal, dugongs are more closely related to elephants than to marine mammals such as whales and dolphins, but their closest living aquatic relatives are the manatees. Dugongs are related to manatees and are similar in appearance and behavior— though the dugong's tail is fluked like a whale's. Dugongs reach their full adult size between 9 and 17 years of age. April 27, 2020 by SRK Leave a Comment. Dugongs can live for about 70 years but population growth is slow. So even under optimal conditions, dugong populations can only ever increase by 5% a year. Did you know that: The dugong, Dugong dugon, is the only extant member of the Dugongidae family and is one of four species of Sirenia. The dugong is therefore considered extinct in this area, taking into account that the usual traces the dugong leaves in the seagrass haven't been seen, no accidental captures have been reported after 1970 and that fishing nets are widely used in the area, acting as a menace to the survival of this species. For parents, this book allows you to talk about the importance of responsibility and how our actions play out in the marine environment. 4. The dugong species is a part of the Sirenia order commonly referred to as sea-cows. Dugongs are air breathing marine mammals, and become entangled in fishing nets and drown. dugongs; ecosystem; environmental laws; great barrier reef; protected areas; queensland; Did you know today is Manatee Appreciation Day? Dugong Facts. Dugongs were hunted to the edge of extinction in the early part of last century by Europeans for food and oil. Dugong facts; Life span (maximum longevity - most dugong die at a younger age) 70 years : Age before breeding (females) 6-17 years: Age before breeding (males) 4-16 years: Gestation period: 13-15 months: Number of young: 1: Lactaction length: 14-18 months: Time between breeding: 3-7 years: Maximum possible rate of increase (e.g. Today I want to write about a beautiful, gentle animal, the dugong. Dugongs are large marine mammals inhabiting warm ocean waters surrounding Australia and Indonesia. This is a dugong looking for some sea grass to eat. 3. It shares a common ancestor with the elephant. These low breeding rates, long-term care of their calves, long time between calves, as well as their dependence on seagrass, make dugongs an easy prey for humans. From the family of Dugongidae, which was once very diverse, the dugongs are … Solid colors are 100% cotton, heather colors are cotton blends. Dugong Facts & Trivia for kids The Dugong is a large marine mammal which is related to the manatee. Dugong populations take a long time to recover because they have a very slow breeding rate and are vulnerable to loss of seagrass habitat. Interesting Facts About the Dugong. Dugongs (Dugong dugon), also known as sea cows, have a broad but fragmented range, encompassing tropical waters from East Africa to Vanuatu, about 26 degrees both north and south of the equator.This range spans at least 48 countries and about 140,000 km of tropical coastline. Although dugongs may be caught in a range of different net types, capture in gill nets is the most significant problem. Geographic Range. Threats to Dugongs. Out of the Sirenia Order that also includes three manatees’ species, the dugong is the fourth living species. These unique characteristics set dugongs apart from many other marine mammals. Dugong will eat algae in addition to it's primary diet of sea grasses. 1. When breathing they will sometimes rest on their tail and poke their head out of the water. 2. Dugongs are usually observed singly or as pairs, and sightings of dugongs by early seafarers are believed to have given rise to the mythology of mermaids and Sirens. Dugongs are sirenians and therefore related to manatees. Moreton Bay is a stronghold with more than 700 individuals. December 22, 2014 | Darren Poke.