Dugongs feed on seagrass and are largely dependent on seagrass communities for subsistence.

Where do dugongs live?

They inhabit coastal seagrass meadows across the Indo‑West Pacific, especially in shallow, protected areas like bays, mangrove channels, and waters around inshore islands.

What is the conservation status of the dugong?

The IUCN lists the dugong as Vulnerable; its distribution is fragmented and many populations are considered close to extinction.

How long do dugongs live?

Dugongs have long lifespans of 70 years or more according to the available information.

How can you tell a dugong from a manatee?

Dugongs have a fluked, dolphin‑like tail, a sharply downturned snout, and simple peg‑like molar teeth, which distinguish them from manatees.

Is trade of dugong products regulated?

International trade in derived products is limited or banned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Where to See Dugong While Diving

Q: Are dugongs hunted?

Yes; dugongs have been hunted for thousands of years for meat and oil, and traditional hunting remains important in parts of their range.

Q: What threats do dugongs face?

Primary threats include hunting, fishing‑related fatalities, and habitat degradation.

The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a marine mammal and one of four living species in the order Sirenia. It is the only living member of the family Dugongidae. Its range spans waters of about 40 countries and territories throughout the Indo‑West Pacific, and it is the only sirenian within that range. Dugongs are largely dependent on seagrass communities and are therefore restricted to coastal habitats that support seagrass meadows. Largest concentrations typically occur in wide, shallow, protected areas such as bays, mangrove channels, waters around large inshore islands, and inter‑reefal waters; northern Australian waters between Shark Bay and Moreton Bay are considered a contemporary stronghold.

Morphology: dugongs have a fusiform body with no dorsal fin or hind limbs and paddle‑like forelimbs (flippers). They are distinguished from manatees by a fluked, dolphin‑like tail, a sharply downturned snout adapted for benthic seagrass feeding, and simple peg‑like molar teeth. The dugong has been hunted for thousands of years for meat and oil, and traditional hunting remains culturally significant in parts of its range. Current distribution is fragmented, many populations are believed to be close to extinction, and the IUCN lists the species as Vulnerable. Major causes of decline include hunting, fishing-related fatalities, and habitat degradation. Dugongs have long lifespans (70 years or more) and a slow rate of reproduction, increasing their vulnerability to population declines.

The dugong is listed as Vulnerable with fragmented distribution and many populations believed close to extinction; main declines are from hunting, fishing fatalities, and habitat degradation despite legal protections in many countries.

The strongest linked planning options currently surface around destinations such as Marsa Alam (Abu Dabbab and Elphinstone), Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Bunaken and Manado (North Sulawesi) and countries such as Egypt, India, Australia for divers building trips around dugongs.