Illustration of dugong
dugong
noun
du·gong ˈdü-ˌgäŋ 
-ˌgȯŋ
plural dugongs also dugong
: an aquatic, herbivorous, usually brownish-gray mammal (Dugong dugon) that inhabits warm coastal waters chiefly of southern Asia, Australia, and eastern Africa and resembles the related manatee but differs in having a notched tail divided into two lobes and upper incisors which grow into small tusks in the male
Note: The dugong commonly attains a length of 8 feet (2.4 meters) or more. It is the sole living species in its taxonomic family (Dugongidae) which also includes the extinct Steller's sea cow and various sirenians known only from fossilized remains.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The dugong, whose diet is highly dependent on seagrass, has been classified as a Grade 1 National Key Protected Animal since 1988 by China’s State Council. 
Reuters, NBC News, 24 Aug. 2022 The dugong, which is highly dependent on a diet of sea grass, has been classified as a Grade 1 National Key Protected Animal since 1988 by China's State Council. Reuters, CNN, 24 Aug. 2022 The dugong is a strictly herbivorous marine mammal – the only of its kind. Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2022 Conversations with the experienced fishers painted a grim picture: Of the 788 study participants, who had been fishing for an average of 25 years, just 5 percent reported having ever seen a dugong. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Aug. 2022 Some believe the dugong is the inspiration for ancient seafaring tales of mermaids and sirens. Reuters, NBC News, 24 Aug. 2022 The dugong, a gentle marine mammal that has frequented China's southern waters for hundreds of years, has become functionally extinct in the country, a new study said on Wednesday. Reuters, CNN, 24 Aug. 2022 The dugong, a strictly marine herbivorous mammal, is known to slowly roam the coasts of tropical and subtropical countries, feeding on sea-grass beds in shallow waters. Karina Tsui, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 Sharks, whales, rays, turtles, dolphins, and even the rare dugong swim these stunning seas alongside 2,000 fish species. Melanie Van Zyl, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2021 See More
Reuters, NBC News, 24 Aug. 2022 The dugong, which is highly dependent on a diet of sea grass, has been classified as a Grade 1 National Key Protected Animal since 1988 by China's State Council. Reuters, CNN, 24 Aug. 2022 The dugong is a strictly herbivorous marine mammal – the only of its kind. Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2022 Conversations with the experienced fishers painted a grim picture: Of the 788 study participants, who had been fishing for an average of 25 years, just 5 percent reported having ever seen a dugong. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Aug. 2022 Some believe the dugong is the inspiration for ancient seafaring tales of mermaids and sirens. Reuters, NBC News, 24 Aug. 2022 The dugong, a gentle marine mammal that has frequented China's southern waters for hundreds of years, has become functionally extinct in the country, a new study said on Wednesday. Reuters, CNN, 24 Aug. 2022 The dugong, a strictly marine herbivorous mammal, is known to slowly roam the coasts of tropical and subtropical countries, feeding on sea-grass beds in shallow waters. Karina Tsui, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 Sharks, whales, rays, turtles, dolphins, and even the rare dugong swim these stunning seas alongside 2,000 fish species. Melanie Van Zyl, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin, genus name, probably from dugung in Cebuano or a related Austronesian language of the central Philippines
First Known Use
1800, in the meaning defined above
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