No.0120In residence
Serena
セレナ
DugongDugong dugon
- Sex
- Female
- Born
- Unknown
VU— Vulnerable
Dugongジュゴン
Dugong dugonVU— Vulnerable
The dugong is a large, entirely marine mammal found across the Indo-West Pacific, from East Africa to northern Australia, and is more closely related to elephants than to whales. A specialized seagrass grazer, it uses its downturned snout to feed on the seabed and can live 50 years or more in the wild. Threatened by fishing net entanglement, habitat loss, hunting, and vessel strikes, the species has declined by roughly 20% over the past 90 years and is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN — with an especially precarious status in Japan, where it is Critically Endangered.
Dugong (reference photo)
Species Data
- Classification
- Sirenia / Dugongidae Source
- Size
- Body length about 3 m (maximum recorded 4.06 m)
- Weight
- About 250–900 kg (average about 450 kg; maximum recorded 1,016 kg)
- Lifespan
- In the wild, growth layers in the teeth have indicated an estimated maximum of 73 years, and individuals living over 50 years are not unusual; the longest record in captivity is about 31 years 5 months (11,476 days)
- Diet
- Herbivore Strictly herbivorous, feeding exclusively on seagrasses of the genera Halodule, Halophila, and Cymodocea; consumes 10–16% of its body weight daily
- Activity
- Feeds mainly during the day, but may shift to nighttime feeding in areas with heavy human traffic; usually found alone or in pairs, though temporary herds of several hundred sometimes form
- Distribution
- The dugong ranges across the Indo-West Pacific in roughly 40 countries, from northern Mozambique and Madagascar through the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, India, and Southeast Asia to Australia, with the largest populations found in northern Australia and the Persian Gulf. Source
- Sources
- ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
Did You Know?
- The rounded shape of a female dugong's teats, which resemble breasts, is thought to have inspired mermaid legends. Source
- During the Ryukyu Kingdom era, the island of Aragusuku in the Yaeyama Islands reportedly paid annual tribute to the kingdom in the form of dried dugong meat. Source
- Despite living entirely in the sea, dugongs are more closely related to elephants than to whales or other marine mammals. Source
Where to See This Species
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 1
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Source links to official sites, official YouTube channels, and news aggregators such as Zoo Ring. Visit the publisher for the full item.
Conservation Story
Conservation Status
Vulnerable (VU)
Sources
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FAQ
- What do dugongs eat?
- They are seagrass specialists, feeding almost exclusively on species in the Halophila and Halodule genera, consuming roughly 10 to 16% of their body weight in seagrass each day. Source
- How long do dugongs live?
- Dugongs can live 50 years or more in the wild, with one individual's age estimated at 73 years based on growth rings in its tusks. Source
- Are dugongs closely related to whales?
- No — despite being fully aquatic, dugongs are more closely related to elephants than to whales, dolphins, or other marine mammals. Source
- How many operating facilities are registered here?
- Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 1 Source
Books & gear
Source: aquarium.co.jp aquarium.co.jp www.kkday.com iseshima.keizai.biz www.iucnredlist.org