Dugong Lacépède 1799

The dugong (Dugong dugon; IUCN status: Vulnerable), also commonly called the ‘sea cow’ favours shallow and protected coastal waters in tropical areas.Both dugongs and their close freshwater relative – manatees – have pectoral mammary glands that closely resemble (closely enough, anyway) human breasts. These features, as well as the animals nursing behaviour, may have caused sailors to liken them to mermaids or sirens; hence the name of the order to which they belong: 'Sirenia'. Dugongs can be extremely long-lived, reaching ages of 70 years or more. Group sizes appear to be flexible with animals living alone, in pairs or in large groups; however the most stable and long-lasting groups are mother and calf pairs. The dugong has a wide range throughout the Indo-Pacific region, from the east coast of Africa to islands of the western Pacific, such as Vanuatu. However, many populations are severely depleted or almost extinct. The majority are found off the coast of northern Australia. For more information visit the MammalMAP virtual museum and blog.

(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function(){mw.log.warn("Gadget "ErrefAurrebista" was not loaded. Please migrate it to use ResourceLoader. See u003Chttps://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berezi:Gadgetaku003E.");});

Dugong manatiaren ordenako (Sirenia ordenako) itsas ugaztuna da (Dudong dugon), bere generoko espezie bakarra. 3 metro izan daiteke luze. Buru handia du, biribil samarra, lepoa zabal laburra eta begiak txikiak. Larru lodia du, eta ile gutxi. Itsas belarrak eta beste zenbait landare jaten ditu. Itsas behia ere esaten zaio. Talde txikitan bizi da Indiako ozeanoan, Itsaso Gorrian, eta Ginea Berriko, Filipinetako eta Australiako kostaldetik hurbil. Gero eta dugong gutxiago geratzen dira, oso aintzat hartua baita ehizarako.

Dugong est genus mammalis marini mediae magnitudinis, cuius una sola species est, Dugong dugon, una ex quattuor species quae exstant ordinis Sireniorum; aliae sunt Trichechidae. Species propinquissima, Hydrodamalis gigas, propter venationem saeculo XVIII exstincta est. Dugong dugon est solum mammale herbivorum quae tantum in mari habitat.