Facts about Dugongs

1. 09

   A dugong's heart rate can drop to just 10-20 beats per minute during extended diving, conserving oxygen for up to 15 minutes in exceptional circumstances.

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2. 08

   Dugongs possess a highly specialized upper lip with sensitive bristles that allows them to detect and select individual seagrass species while feeding on the seafloor.

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3. 07

   Australian Aboriginal peoples have hunted dugongs for at least 4,000 years, as evidenced by rock art and archaeological sites along the northern coast.

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4. 06

   Seagrass meadows spanning over 400,000 square kilometers across the Indo-Pacific region serve as the primary food source for dugongs, which consume up to 40 kilograms daily.

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5. 05

   Mothers nurse their calves for up to 18 months, creating strong social bonds that can last throughout the dugong's 70-year lifespan.

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6. 04

   Sirenians like dugongs evolved from four-legged land mammals approximately 60 million years ago, sharing a common ancestor with elephants based on molecular and fossil evidence.

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7. 03

   Dugong teeth lack roots and continuously grow throughout their lifetime to replace worn molars used for grinding tough seagrass.

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8. 02

   The Indian Ocean population of dugongs has declined by approximately 98 percent over the past century due to hunting and habitat loss.

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9. 01

   Weighing up to 900 kilograms, dugongs can hold their breath for up to six minutes while grazing on seagrass in shallow coastal waters.

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