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
- 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
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
1 facilities · 1 individuals
Toba AquariumMieOpened in 1955
日本で唯一ジュゴンを飼育する水族館。雌「セレナ」が1987年から在籍し、2026年4月に入館39周年を迎えた。 Source
- 《鳥羽水族館》とある日のジュゴン担当飼育係とジュゴンのsetlog🤍🌱 #鳥羽水族館 #aquarium #animals #ジュゴン #setlog
- 《鳥羽水族館》召喚っ！……… #鳥羽水族館 #aquarium #ラッコ #ジュゴン #領域展開
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
IUCNは危急種(VU)に分類。過去90年間で個体数は約20%減少し、香港・モーリシャス・台湾では絶滅、2022年時点で中国でも機能的に絶滅したとされる。日本では絶滅危惧IA類に指定され、確実に個体識別されている個体はわずか3頭とされる。
Habitat
海草藻場が広がる浅い沿岸海域を主な生息地とする。日本近海では沖縄諸島周辺が北限にあたる。
Threats
- 刺し網など漁具への混獲
- 密猟・違法な捕獲
- 海洋汚染や海草藻場の減少
- 船舶との衝突
Conservation & Breeding Efforts
- 日本では久米島や先島諸島周辺で生息状況のモニタリング調査が継続されており、2025年の調査では新たな生息の痕跡が確認された
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
Source: aquarium.co.jp aquarium.co.jp www.kkday.com iseshima.keizai.biz www.iucnredlist.org