908 observationsVulnerable
Dugong
Dugong dugon
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia ›Phylum: Chordata ›Class: Mammalia ›Order: Sirenia ›Family: Dugongidae ›Genus: Dugong
About
The dugong (/ˈdjuːɡɒŋ/; 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. The dugong is the only strictly herbivorous marine mammal.