The age can be estimated by counting the growth layers on the dugong’s tusks. Life cycle Dugong females only produce one calf every 2 to 7 years, born in full term and are generally 1.2m in length. Dugong calves nurse (suckle) for 18 months or longer and during this time they rarely stray from their mother – they are often seen riding on the mother’s back! In response to these pressures, the Queensland government began establishing Dugong Protection Areas (DPAs), which … This low breeding rate and relatively long life span (up to 70 years) means that they are susceptible to environmental changes and pressures. Life Cycle and Span. Out of the Sirenia Order that also includes three manatees’ species, the dugong… Dugongs have a remarkable life span of up to 70 years in the wild. Beliefs, Superstitions, and Phobias About the Dugong – The “Siren” It is common legend that … It is believed there are 80,000 dugongs in Australian waters with approximately 14 000 off the coast of Queensland. Short hair is sparsely distributed over the body, save the bristles on the muzzle. Geographic Range. Dugong, like whales and dolphins, spend their lives at sea. The calves suckle from their mothers’ mammary glands which are hidden away under her fins. Not only are the photographs of luminous clarity, they capture defining moments in the manatees' life cycle. When the calf is about to be born, the mother lays on her back so the manatee can come out. The mother dugong helps the baby surface for its first breath when it is born. Dugong - Facts, Pictures, Habitat, Characteristics. The dugong is a medium-sized marine mammal who is the only surviving representative of the Dugongidae family. Dusky Dolphin – Facts, Pictures, Life Cycle, Lifespan, Habitat. Manatees have a small life cycle, but they go through a lot to become a father or a mother. December 4, 2015 | Jonathan Gavilanes. Dugongs (Dugong dugon), also known as sea cows, have a broad but fragmented range, encompassing tropical waters from East Africa to Vanuatu, about 26 degrees both north and south of the equator.This range spans at least 48 countries and about 140,000 km of tropical coastline. Even more unusual are the photographs of all the dugong species around the world, not only the ones found along the Florida coast. Dugongs, Dugong dugon (Müller, 1776), aka sea cows, range in length from 2.4-4 m. Sexual dimorphism is either absent or females may slightly outsize males and can weigh over 270 kg. The process of choosing mates is different for dugongs in different regions. Manatees can live to be more than sixty years old in captivity, but their lifespan in the wild is about forty years. Dugongs in Australia. The Life Cycle of Manatees. The manatee life cycle looks like this: fetus->calf->adult->breeding adult. Dugongs are born a pale cream color, but they darken with age to a deep slate gray dorsally and laterally. January 31, 2020 by SRK Leave a Comment. A calf will nurse for up to 18 months, but remains with its mother until it reaches sexual maturity. ... Dugong - Facts, Pictures, Habitat, Characteristics. The dugong is a medium-sized marine mammal who is the only surviving representative of the Dugongidae family. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List currently lists the dugong as vulnerable to extinction. The baby dugong is born in the warm shallow waters, where the baby dugong is immediately able to swim to the surface in order to take its first breath of its life. The dugong life cycle looks like this: fetus->baby->young adult->breeding adult. A born calf will weigh up to 60 pounds and is 4 feet long; the calf already knows how to swim. 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