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, though the majority of dugongs live in the
northern waters of Australia between Shark Bay and Moreton Bay.
The dugong is the only strictly marine herbivorous mammal, as
all species of manatee use fresh water to some degree. Like all
modern sirenians, the dugong has a fusiform body with no dorsal
fin or hind limbs, instead possessing paddle-like forelimbs used
to manoeuvre. It is easily distinguished from the manatees by
its fluked, dolphin-like tail, but also possesses a unique skull
and teeth. The dugong is heavily dependent on seagrasses for
subsistence and is thus r