Endangered Specimen of the month
This months endangered specimen is the Dugong, which is also known as the sea cow because it is a large herbivorous marine animal.
Dugongs play an important role in costal marine ecosystems. This is because the general health of and ecosystem can be determined by the dugong population in the area.
Fun Fact: A dugong is more closely related to an elephant than a shark or dolphin, and their closest aquatic relative is the manatee.
Dugongs have a rounded head, small eyes, and a big snout, and they rely heavily on hearing, since they have average/poor eyesight. A dugong is unlike most marine animals in how it breaths. It must surface every few minutes for air, because it can not hold its breath for extended periods of time.
With a slow breeding rate and long life span these animals are susceptible to changing factors (human impact - habitat degradation), which is causing the current population to fall. Thus labeling them as an endangered/now protected species.
Dugong Fact
Fun Fact: A dugong is more closely related to an elephant than a shark or dolphin, and their closest aquatic relative is the manatee.
Dugongs have a rounded head, small eyes, and a big snout, and they rely heavily on hearing, since they have average/poor eyesight. A dugong is unlike most marine animals in how it breaths. It must surface every few minutes for air, because it can not hold its breath for extended periods of time.
With a slow breeding rate and long life span these animals are susceptible to changing factors (human impact - habitat degradation), which is causing the current population to fall. Thus labeling them as an endangered/now protected species.
Dugong Fact