Hello again, welcome back to animals under threat. Today,
we will be covering the Dugong. Once driven close to extinction, the dugong is
once again under threat from global warming, poaching and destruction of habitat.
Say hello to the Dugong (Dugong dugon).
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/dugong
The dugong is a marine animal that resides in warm
coastal areas which contains their prefer choice of food which is seagrass. They
are characterized by their large grey coloured body, short flippers, tail that
looks similar to a whale’s and board bristled snout (Perrin et al, 2008). Even though
they look similar to manatees, there are many differences between them as shown
in the diagram below (Britannica.com).
Picture by Britannica.com
Dugongs can weigh up to 230-420 kg and can grow up to 2.2-3.4m
in length. They cannot move fast and have no defence against sharks, Orcas and
crocodiles with young dugongs hiding behind the mother if danger in present
(environment.gov.au, 2019). Older dugongs may have scars across their backs
from boat propellers. Dugongs may live in groups or pairs depending where they
live as the seagrass beds that they feed on cannot support large groups leading
to dugongs moving to find other seagrass beds (australianmuseum.net.au, 2019).
seagrass bed by https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/dugong
The reproductive rate of dugong is low as females invest
much of their energy in raising a single calf. Female dugongs don’t bear their
first calf until they are at least 6 years old and the calf takes up to 12-14
to be born (Perrin et al, 2008). The calf will stay with the mother for several
years and the mother will not have another calf for 2-7 years (australianmuseum.net.au,
2019). Dugongs can live up to 70 years with the oldest recorded at 73 years
old.
Dugong swimming by https://www.wwf.org.au/what-we-do/species/dugong#gs.i0mhy2
Dugongs are under threat from poaching, global warming
and habitat destruction. Due to their slow speed, hunters have targeted dugongs
for their meat, oil, skin and bones. Global warming and habitat destruction have
affected the seagrass beds by destroying/polluting which harms the dugongs that
fed on it (nationalgeographic.com, 2019).
Next time, we will be covering the largest marine mammal
that has ever lived.
References
https://www.britannica.com/animal/dugong-mammal
by Thomas O’Shea retrieved 2019.
Perrin, WF, Thewissen, JGM, Würsig, B, & Thewissen,
JGM (eds) 2008, Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, Elsevier Science &
Technology, San Diego. Available from: ProQuest Ebook Central. [23 November
2019].
https://www.environment.gov.au/marine/marine-species/dugongs
retrieved 2019.
https://australianmuseum.net.au/learn/animals/mammals/dugong/
retrieved 2019.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/d/dugong/
retrieved 2019.
Picture references
https://www.britannica.com/animal/dugong-mammal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dugong
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/dugong
https://www.wwf.org.au/what-we-do/species/dugong#gs.i0mhy2
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