Dugong
Also called: Sea cow · Topic: Biodiversity and its Conservation · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The dugong, also called the sea cow, is a large marine mammal that eats only plants. It grazes on seagrass, which is a flowering plant that grows in meadows on shallow sea floors. The IUCN lists it as Vulnerable, which means it is likely to become endangered if threats continue. Dugongs need healthy seagrass beds, so protecting them also protects coastal ecosystems.
Example
In India, dugongs live in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, the Gulf of Kachchh and Andaman waters. India's first Dugong Conservation Reserve was notified in Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu, in 2022. The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, India's first marine biosphere reserve, is also known for dugongs.
Don't confuse with
- Gangetic river dolphin: this is a freshwater mammal that eats fish and finds food by echolocation. The dugong is a sea mammal that eats seagrass.
Related concepts
- Wetland
- Ramsar Convention
- Ramsar sites of India
- Montreux Record
- Blue carbon
- Coral bleaching
- Great Barrier Reef
- Olive ridley turtle