dugong facts for kids

Dugong Facts & Trivia for kids The Dugong is a large marine mammal which is related to the manatee. Geographic Range. Dugongs were hunted to the edge of extinction in the early part of last century by Europeans for food and oil. Learn about the amazing marine life, where the Great Barrier Reef is, how climate change could affect it and much more. A dugong can remain underwater for up to 6 minutes. Earthrace Conservation . Its closest living relatives are the manatees. Keywords. 4. At the back of the book you’ll also find some valuable dugong facts to go through with the kids. For parents, this book allows you to talk about the importance of responsibility and how our actions play out in the marine environment. This is a dugong looking for some sea grass to eat. So we wanted to give a shoutout to their cousin - the dugong! Dugong populations take a long time to recover because they have a very slow breeding rate and are vulnerable to loss of seagrass habitat. The dugong is a medium-sized marine mammal who is the only surviving representative of the Dugongidae family. These unique characteristics set dugongs apart from many other marine mammals. A blog about animals to help educate kids about wildlife Menu. These days, dugongs are under pressure from other activities, such as loss of habitat, boat traffic and being caught in fishing nets. From the family of Dugongidae, which was once very diverse, the dugongs are … Dugong Facts & Trivia for kids The Dugong is a large marine mammal which is related to the manatee. 28 Mar 2018. Dugong is a marine mammal that swims around warm tropical waters. Range of color options. Solid colors are 100% cotton, heather colors are cotton blends. Although dugongs may be caught in a range of different net types, capture in gill nets is the most significant problem. Dugongs differ from their closest living relative, the manatee, in a number of ways. Herds of 100–200 dugongs, however, are sometimes seen, with 450 being the maximum recorded. 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. Dugong will eat algae in addition to it's primary diet of sea grasses. 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. Instead, they use sounds and physical touch. They are also threatened by pollution, poor water quality and collision with boats. Download the teacher notes to extend learning beyond the book. Dugongs reach their full adult size between 9 and 17 years of age. Out of the Sirenia Order that also includes three manatees’ species, the dugong is the fourth living species. Dugongs only give birth every 3-7 years, and live for up to 70 years. They may have been mistaken for mermaids as well. Enjoy a range of colourful pictures, interesting information and fun trivia related to the largest coral reef system in the world. Fun Facts About Dugongs. Skip to content. 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. 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 (Dugong dugon) is a medium-sized marine mammal. THE DUGONG IS the only surviving species in the family Dugongidae. A female dugong gives birth to only one calf every 3 or 7 years. Fully grown, they may be three metres long and weigh 400 kilograms. 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. Great Barrier Reef Facts. Dugong list of facts is made of finely balanced population parameters. [toc] Dugongs occur in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. April 27, 2020 by SRK Leave a Comment. Dugong are part of the Sirenia order of animals, which are often known as "sea cows". There are lots of fun facts about the dugong. Dugong Facts. They come to the surface to breathe through nostrils 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 legends of mermaids are believed to have originated when sailors viewed dugongs and manatees … dugongs; ecosystem; environmental laws; great barrier reef; protected areas; queensland; Did you know today is Manatee Appreciation Day? Predators The main predators of Dugongs are sharks, killer whales and crocodiles. Taiwan: there is a lot of evidence that the dugong is practically extinct here. Home; About Hayden; Amphibians; Birds; Fish; Invertebrates – Land; Invertebrates – Water ; Mammals; Reptiles; 5 Interesting Facts About Dugongs. 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. Dugongs can live for about 70 years but population growth is slow. 1. Dugong Kids Clothing by The Sleepy Monito. Sadly, these beautiful and rare marine mammals need your help. It is one of four living species of the order Sirenia, which also includes three species of manatees. Dugong will eat algae in addition to it's primary diet of sea grasses. 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. Dugongs grow to a maximum length of 13 feet (4 m) long and weight of 595 pounds (270 kg). #Dugong facts. May 15, 2020 at 11:34 am ADOPT A DUGONG. It derives its name from the Malay language, where duyung means “lady of the sea” or “mermaid”. Dugongs swim by moving their broad whale-like tail in an up and down motion, and by use of their two flippers. 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. Dugongs rarely communicate visually, due to their poor eyesight. 2. When breathing they will sometimes rest on their tail and poke their head out of the water. 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. 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. 1. 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. A more common amount of time though is 2 ½ minutes. This is the reason why their order was given the name Sirenia. Dugongs are air breathing marine mammals, and become entangled in fishing nets and drown. Dugong – Facts, Pictures, Habitat, Characteristics. A contributing factor to the reason dugongs are an endangered species is because of the gestation period and the late age of sexual maturity. Quick facts. DUGONG. Commercial gillnet fishing is a major threat to dugongs along Australia’s eastern coastline. 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 reach adult size between 4 and 17 years of age. Dugong are part of the Sirenia order of animals, which are often known as "sea cows". Interesting Facts About the Dugong. Dugongs are sirenians and therefore related to manatees. The dugong species is a part of the Sirenia order commonly referred to as sea-cows. 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. Threats to Dugongs. Dugongs are large grey mammals which spend their entire lives in the sea. To find out more about dugongs, grab a copy of issue 118 (Jan/Feb 2014) of Australian Geographic. Dugongs are more closely related to elephants than other marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins. Dugongs are large marine mammals inhabiting warm ocean waters surrounding Australia and Indonesia. 7 facts about dugongs! Kids; A-Z; Dugongs. THE SEA-GRASS plains of Moreton Bay, off the coast of Queensland, is home to one of Australia’s largest populations of dugong. To communicate dugongs use chirps, whistles and barks. Dugong & divers. Check out our Great Barrier Reef facts for kids. Today I want to write about a beautiful, gentle animal, the dugong. 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. Soft and durable One-Piece - Short Sleeve kids clothing. 3. 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. The legend of the mermaid is based upon sightings by sailors of dugongs. So even under optimal conditions, dugong populations can only ever increase by 5% a year. Dugong 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. The incidental and deliberate capture of dugongs in artisanal fisheries is one of the most serious and widespread threats to the dugong’s survival. 5 Incredible Dugong Facts. Dugong Magic. 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. Unlike other marine mammals, dugongs cannot hold their breath under water for very long. It shares a common ancestor with the elephant. Most dugongs are concentrated around northern Australia, while they are also found throughout the Indo-Pacific tropics. 2. Moreton Bay is a stronghold with more than 700 individuals. Dugongs can live up to 70 years. December 22, 2014 | Darren Poke. When under stress, females respond by producing fewer young, further stalling population growth. 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. 4. 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.

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