What is the Difference Between Dugongs and Manatees?

Dugongs and manatees, both affectionately dubbed "sea cows," are large, slow-moving, herbivorous marine mammals that belong to the Sirenian animal order. While they share many similarities, there are several key differences between them:

1. Tails: Manatees have paddle-shaped tails, while dugongs have fluked tails, giving them a whale-like appearance.
2. Snout: Dugongs have a broad, short, trunk-like snout that faces downward with a slit for a mouth, useful for feeding off the ocean floor. Manatees have a shorter snout and a divided upper lip.
3. Size: Manatees can grow up to 13 to 15 feet long and weigh between 440 and 3,913 pounds, while dugongs can reach 8 to 10 feet long and weigh between 510 and 1,100 pounds.
4. Habitat: Manatees are found in three species-specific regions: the West Indian manatee along the coast from Florida to Brazil, the Amazonian manatee in the Amazon River, and the African manatee along the west coast of Africa. Dugongs, on the other hand, have a range from East Africa to Australia.
5. Feeding: Manatees typically feed at or near the surface, while dugongs feed on the ocean floor.
6. Teeth: Dugongs have overgrown incisors set at the front of the mouth, resembling small tusks, which are only obvious on adult male dugongs and not present in manatees at all.

Despite these differences, both manatees and dugongs are light gray in color and can sometimes have algae growing on them, making them appear more brown or green. They are both found in warm tropical or subtropical waters, but their habitats do not overlap.

Comparative Table: Dugongs vs Manatees

Here is a table comparing the differences between dugongs and manatees:

Both dugongs and manatees are slow-moving herbivorous marine mammals belonging to the Sirenian animal order. They are often referred to as "sea cows" due to their grass-eating tendencies and slow nature. While they share many similarities, they also have distinct differences in their physical attributes, such as tail and snout shape, incisors, habitat, size, and teeth.