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. Dugongs are large marine mammals inhabiting warm ocean waters surrounding Australia and Indonesia. 4. Solid colors are 100% cotton, heather colors are cotton blends. Kids; A-Z; Dugongs. Dugongs differ from their closest living relative, the manatee, in a number of ways. 1. #Dugong facts. So even under optimal conditions, dugong populations can only ever increase by 5% a year. 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. The legend of the mermaid is based upon sightings by sailors of dugongs. They come to the surface to breathe through nostrils A more common amount of time though is 2 ½ minutes. It derives its name from the Malay language, where duyung means “lady of the sea” or “mermaid”. This is a dugong looking for some sea grass to eat. Dugong populations take a long time to recover because they have a very slow breeding rate and are vulnerable to loss of seagrass habitat. Dugongs were hunted to the edge of extinction in the early part of last century by Europeans for food and oil. 3. A female dugong gives birth to only one calf every 3 or 7 years. The dugong (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. Commercial gillnet fishing is a major threat to dugongs along Australia’s eastern coastline. For parents, this book allows you to talk about the importance of responsibility and how our actions play out in the marine environment. Unlike other marine mammals, dugongs cannot hold their breath under water for very long. 2. Earthrace Conservation . 28 Mar 2018. Quick facts. 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. 4. When breathing they will sometimes rest on their tail and poke their head out of the water. 2. It shares a common ancestor with the elephant. Dugong Facts & Trivia for kids The Dugong is a large marine mammal which is related to the manatee. Dugongs can live for about 70 years but population growth is slow. Dugongs can live up to 70 years. 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. Taiwan: there is a lot of evidence that the dugong is practically extinct here. Dugongs are related to manatees and are similar in appearance and behavior— though the dugong's tail is fluked like a whale's. The dugong is a medium-sized marine mammal who is the only surviving representative of the Dugongidae family. Dugong Facts. Great Barrier Reef Facts. Fully grown, they may be three metres long and weigh 400 kilograms. Fun Facts About Dugongs. THE DUGONG IS the only surviving species in the family Dugongidae. Dugongs grow to a maximum length of 13 feet (4 m) long and weight of 595 pounds (270 kg). Out of the Sirenia Order that also includes three manatees’ species, the dugong is the fourth living species. Dugongs are air breathing marine mammals, and become entangled in fishing nets and drown. 1. Learn about the amazing marine life, where the Great Barrier Reef is, how climate change could affect it and much more. May 15, 2020 at 11:34 am ADOPT A DUGONG. Today I want to write about a beautiful, gentle animal, the dugong. Dugongs are sirenians and therefore related to manatees. Although dugongs may be caught in a range of different net types, capture in gill nets is the most significant problem. 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. Most dugongs are concentrated around northern Australia, while they are also found throughout the Indo-Pacific tropics. Skip to content. Enjoy a range of colourful pictures, interesting information and fun trivia related to the largest coral reef system in the world. Check out our Great Barrier Reef facts for kids. THE SEA-GRASS plains of Moreton Bay, off the coast of Queensland, is home to one of Australia’s largest populations of dugong. Interesting Facts About the Dugong. 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. 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. Dugong Kids Clothing by The Sleepy Monito. From the family of Dugongidae, which was once very diverse, the dugongs are … 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. Download the teacher notes to extend learning beyond the book. Dugong Magic. These days, dugongs are under pressure from other activities, such as loss of habitat, boat traffic and being caught in fishing nets. A contributing factor to the reason dugongs are an endangered species is because of the gestation period and the late age of sexual maturity. There are lots of fun facts about the dugong. Dugong is a marine mammal that swims around warm tropical waters. Dugong Facts & Trivia for kids The Dugong is a large marine mammal which is related to the manatee. Dugongs reach their full adult size between 9 and 17 years of age. 5 Incredible Dugong Facts. 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. 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. To communicate dugongs use chirps, whistles and barks. Dugong will eat algae in addition to it's primary diet of sea grasses. Dugongs reach adult size between 4 and 17 years of age. A blog about animals to help educate kids about wildlife Menu. 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. April 27, 2020 by SRK Leave a Comment. When under stress, females respond by producing fewer young, further stalling population growth. At the back of the book you’ll also find some valuable dugong facts to go through with the kids. They may have been mistaken for mermaids as well. [toc] Dugongs occur in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. Dugongs are more closely related to elephants than other marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins. 7 facts about dugongs! A Truly Marine Mammal – Dugongs are the only species in the order Sirenia (dugongs and manatees) that lives in an exclusively marine environment. 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. These unique characteristics set dugongs apart from many other marine mammals. dugongs; ecosystem; environmental laws; great barrier reef; protected areas; queensland; Did you know today is Manatee Appreciation Day? The incidental and deliberate capture of dugongs in artisanal fisheries is one of the most serious and widespread threats to the dugong’s survival. Soft and durable One-Piece - Short Sleeve kids clothing. Keywords. Threats to Dugongs. This is the reason why their order was given the name Sirenia. December 22, 2014 | Darren Poke. A dugong can remain underwater for up to 6 minutes. 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. 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. 3. Dugong are part of the Sirenia order of animals, which are often known as "sea cows". Dugongs rarely communicate visually, due to their poor eyesight. Dugong are part of the Sirenia order of animals, which are often known as "sea cows". The legends of mermaids are believed to have originated when sailors viewed dugongs and manatees … Instead, they use sounds and physical touch. Dugong & divers. Dugongs can reach 17 years of age before they start to breed and when they do they will only reproduce every 3 - 7 years. 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 only give birth every 3-7 years, and live for up to 70 years. 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. So we wanted to give a shoutout to their cousin - the dugong! Sadly, these beautiful and rare marine mammals need your help. 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. Its closest living relatives are the manatees. 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. Predators The main predators of Dugongs are sharks, killer whales and crocodiles. Dugong will eat algae in addition to it's primary diet of sea grasses. Home; About Hayden; Amphibians; Birds; Fish; Invertebrates – Land; Invertebrates – Water ; Mammals; Reptiles; 5 Interesting Facts About Dugongs. They are also threatened by pollution, poor water quality and collision with boats. Dugongs are large grey mammals which spend their entire lives in the sea. Geographic Range. Dugong list of facts is made of finely balanced population parameters. DUGONG. Moreton Bay is a stronghold with more than 700 individuals. Dugong Facts. The dugong species is a part of the Sirenia order commonly referred to as sea-cows. Dugongs swim by moving their broad whale-like tail in an up and down motion, and by use of their two flippers. Herds of 100–200 dugongs, however, are sometimes seen, with 450 being the maximum recorded. Range of color options. Dugong – Facts, Pictures, Habitat, Characteristics. 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