# Sea Cows (DD-162)

> The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a marine mammal related to manatees; together they form the order Sirenia, often called sea cows. Dugongs live in warm coastal waters from East Africa and the Red Sea across the Indian Ocean to Australia and the western Pacific. Adults are typically about 3 m long and often weigh 250 to 400 kg, though large individuals can be heavier. They feed almost entirely on seagrass, swim with a fluked tail, and usually dive for a few minutes at a time. The species is listed as Vulnerable. The footage shows dugongs grazing and swimming, with the presenter.

- Department: Nature
- First published: 2024-01-05
- Last updated: 2024-01-05
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/sea-cows/
- Original Reel title: Sea Cows 🐄
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## Quick facts

- **DD-162-F01**: Dugongs and manatees are sirenians. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (Sirenians))_
- **DD-162-F02**: They live from East Africa to the Pacific. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (Range))_

## Write-up

Dugongs graze seagrass like cows graze grass. Their closest living relatives are manatees.

1. **Sirenians**: Dugongs and manatees are sirenians.
2. **Range**: They live from East Africa to the Pacific.
3. **Size**: Adults are about 3 m long.
4. **Seagrass**: They feed almost entirely on seagrass.
5. **Fluked tail**: They swim with a fluked tail.

## Related case files

- [Whale Milk (DD-729)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/whale-milk/): I linked more marine mammals
- [King Cobra (DD-163)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/king-cobra/): I linked more tropical Asian wildlife

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: 'Weighing around 600 kilograms': most adults are lighter, often 250 to 400 kg, though some are heavier.

## Video: Sea Cows: Dugongs Graze Seagrass Like Cows Graze Grass

- Duration: 33.1 s · Published: 2024-01-05
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/C1tXmkrOars.mp4

### Transcript

Dugongs also known as sea cows are marine mammals closely related to manatees. DID YOU KNOW? These gentle herbivores are found coastal waters from East Africa to Australia including the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and the Pacific. Dugongs are large animals with adults reaching lengths of up to and weighing around 600 kilograms. Their bodies are well adapted for aquatic featuring a streamlined shape and paddle like flippers. Dugongs are primarily herbivorous feeding on sea grasses in shallow coastal waters. Dugongs have the ability to stay submerged for several minutes using their strong tails to propel themselves. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: Which animals are dugongs related to?**  
A: Order Sirenia. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Sirenians) · Wikipedia: Dugong)_

**Q: Where do dugongs live?**  
A: East Africa to the Pacific. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Range) · Wikipedia: Dugong)_

**Q: How long are adults?**  
A: Large but gentle. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Size) · Wikipedia: Dugong)_

**Q: What do dugongs eat?**  
A: Grazers. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Seagrass) · Wikipedia: Dugong)_

**Q: How do they swim?**  
A: Like a whale's tail. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Fluked tail) · Wikipedia: Dugong)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Dugong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dugong)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Sea Cows." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-162, last updated Jan 5, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/sea-cows/