Dugong

Dugong dugon

VU Herbivore Coastal Waters, Seagrass
Up to 420 kg
Weight
70–80 yrs
Lifespan
27 km/h
Top Speed
Indian Ocean, Western Pacific
Found In

With a lifespan of up to 70–80 years, the Dugong (Dugong dugon) is among the longest-lived herbivore mammals. It inhabits coastal waters, seagrass habitats in Indian Ocean, Western Pacific.

Physical Characteristics & Habitat

Size & Speed

Metric Dugong Herbivore Mammals Median Difference
Weight 420 kg 117.3 kg ↑ 258%
Height 300 cm
Top Speed 27 km/h 40 km/h ↓ 33%
Avg Speed 12.5 km/h
Weight (kg)420avg 117.3Speed (km/h)27avg 40Lifespan (yrs)75avg 22.5

Habitat & Distribution

The Dugong inhabits coastal waters, seagrass habitats. It can be found in Indian Ocean, Western Pacific.

Typical coloring: Gray.

Diet & Predators

Diet: Herbivore
Predators: Sharks, Orcas

Behavior & Reproduction

Social Structure

The Dugong is a solitary species belonging to the Dugongidae family.

Reproduction

Gestation Period: 13–14 months
Offspring per Birth: 1
Lifespan: 70–80 years

Conservation & Comparison

IUCN Conservation Status

VU The Dugong is classified as Vulnerable. There are 34 species with the same status in our database.

Species Comparison

Among 50 herbivore mammals, the Dugong’s weight of Up to 420 kg is significantly higher than the group median of 117.3 kg.

Weight rank: #10 of 34 Vulnerable species.

# Species Weight Status
1 Sperm Whale Up to 57000 kg VU
2 African Elephant 2700–6000 kg VU
3 Great White Shark Up to 2268 kg VU
4 Hippopotamus 1300–3200 kg VU
5 Gaur 600–1300 kg VU

Related Species

How much does a Dugong weigh?

A Dugong typically weighs Up to 420 kg, which is exceptionally high compared to the median of 117.3 kg among herbivore mammals.

What is the conservation status of the Dugong?

The Dugong is classified as “Vulnerable”. There are 34 species with the same status in our database.

Where does the Dugong live?

The Dugong is found in Indian Ocean, Western Pacific, in coastal waters, seagrass habitats.

How does the Dugong reproduce?

The Dugong has a gestation period of 13–14 months and typically produces 1 offspring per birth.

Data Sources: IUCN, WWF, National Geographic, Smithsonian Institution.

Last Updated: April 10, 2026