Description There is only 1 living species in the family Dugongidae. The other recent member, Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas)...
Description There is only 1 living species in the family Dugongidae. The other recent member, Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) has been extinct since 1768. The dugong is tropical and subtropical, but Steller's sea cow was an inhabitant of cold temperate to subarctic waters. In members of this family, the flattened tail is expanded into flukes, similar to those of cetaceans. Other caracteristics include a rostrum that is deflected downwards, the presence of erupted tusks in males (dugongs only; Steller's sea cow had no teeth), a more streamlined body than those of manatees, and the absence of nails on flippers. <123> [details]
WoRMS (2024). Dugongidae Gray, 1821. Accessed at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=196263 on 2024-09-23
Present Inaccurate Introduced: alien Containing type locality
From other sources
Description There is only 1 living species in the family Dugongidae. The other recent member, Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) has been extinct since 1768. The dugong is tropical and subtropical, but Steller's sea cow was an inhabitant of cold temperate to subarctic waters. In members of this family, the flattened tail is expanded into flukes, similar to those of cetaceans. Other caracteristics include a rostrum that is deflected downwards, the presence of erupted tusks in males (dugongs only; Steller's sea cow had no teeth), a more streamlined body than those of manatees, and the absence of nails on flippers. <123> [details]