Dugong (Noun)
Meaning
Sirenian tusked mammal found from eastern Africa to Australia; the flat tail is bilobate.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The dugong is a large marine mammal that inhabits the warm waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
- Dugongs are closely related to manatees and are also known as sea cows due to their herbivorous diet.
- A dugong's flat tail is bilobate, which it uses to propel itself through the water in search of seagrass and other aquatic plants.
- The dugong is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss and hunting by humans.
- In some parts of Australia, dugongs are considered an important part of the local ecosystem and are protected by conservation laws.