Difference Between Dugongs and Manatees

Dugongs have tail flukes with pointed projections at the tips, much like a whale or dolphin, but with a somewhat concave trailing edge. Manatees have paddle-shaped tails more like a beaver that moves vertically while swimming. The snout of a dugong is broad, short, and trunk-like.

1. Are dugongs and manatees the same thing?
2. What is the difference between a sea cow and a manatee?
3. Are there dugongs in Florida?
4. What are manatees called in Australia?
5. Can a manatee kill a human?
6. Do manatees fart?
7. Is a manatee a mermaid?
8. What eats a manatee?
9. Are dugongs smart?
10. Can you swim with dugongs?
11. Where are manatee found?
12. Where are dugongs found?

Are dugongs and manatees the same thing?

Dugongs are related to manatees and are similar in appearance and behavior— though the dugong's tail is fluked like a whale's. Both are related to the elephant, although the giant land animal is not at all similar in appearance or behavior.

What is the difference between a sea cow and a manatee?

There are several differences between the Steller's sea cow and the manatee, which are: A. The Steller's sea cow tail is fluked like a dugong or whale's tail, where a manatee has a paddle-shaped tail. ... Whereas the manatee and dugong live in warm tropical waters with very little body fat.

Are there dugongs in Florida?

Quick Facts

Fossil dugongs are the most common mammal fossils found in Florida, and of the several known species, Metaxytherium floridanum is probably the most abundant.

What are manatees called in Australia?

It is known as the balguja by the Wunambal people of the Mitchell Plateau area in the Kimberley, Western Australia. Dugong dugon is the only extant species of the family Dugongidae, and one of only four extant species of the Sirenia order, the others forming the manatee family.

Can a manatee kill a human?

Not known to harm anything, they spend their days diving to dine on sea grasses and fresh water vegetation. But humans harm them with watercraft collisions and boat propellers that slice their skin. Mortality is so common that the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has a phone line to report dead manatees.

Do manatees fart?

Manatees have fart-storage pouches, because farts are so vital to their buoyancy “that constipated individuals cannot swim properly.”

Is a manatee a mermaid?

Photographer Brian Skerry reveals the creatures once believed to be mermaids. Indeed, manatees and dugongs are both known to rise out of the sea like the alluring sirens of Greek myth, occasionally performing "tail stands" in shallow water.

What eats a manatee?

Manatees don't really have any real predators. Sharks or killer whales or alligators or crocodiles could eat them, but since they don't usually inhabit the same waters, this is pretty rare. Their biggest threat is from humans. And because of this, all manatee species are endangered and threatened.

Are dugongs smart?

Our team at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium think dugongs are unique and incredibly intelligent creatures. ... The dugong is one of four species of the order Sirenia, a group of marine mammals are strictly herbivorous meaning they eat only plants.

Can you swim with dugongs?

Swim and Dive with Dugongs. Dugongs are very rare, and the place you are most likely to see one is in the area near Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. Sydney Aquarium – Dugong Exhibit is an excellent option to see the rare dugongs.

Where are manatee found?

Manatees are a migratory species. Within the United States, they are concentrated in Florida in the winter. In summer months, they can be found as far west as Texas and as far north as Massachusetts, but summer sightings in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina are more common.

Where are dugongs found?

RANGE: Dugongs are found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans; those in the coastal waters of Okinawa, Japan represent the northernmost range of the species.