Taxon Description (Wikipedia)
The
dugong (
Dugong dugon) is a large marine mammal which, together with the manatees, is one of four living species of the order Sirenia. It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest modern relative, Steller's Sea Cow (
Hydrodamalis gigas), was hunted to extinction in the 18th century. It is also the only sirenian in its range, which spans the waters of at least 37 countries throughout the Indo-Pacific,
[ Marsh et al. 2002. [http://www.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2002-001.pdf Dugong : status reports and action plans for countries and territories]. IUCN.] though the majority of dugongs live in the northern waters of Australia between Shark Bay and Moreton Bay.
[ Lawler et al. 2002.... full article at Wikipedia
]
