Question:
Dugong is a
Dugong is a
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Sirenians consist of two families:
1. Dugongidae (Dugongs - have a fluked, whale-like tail).
2. Trichechidae (Manatees - have a paddle-shaped tail).
Both are herbivores, distinguishing them from carnivorous Cetaceans and Pinnipeds.
1. Dugongidae (Dugongs - have a fluked, whale-like tail).
2. Trichechidae (Manatees - have a paddle-shaped tail).
Both are herbivores, distinguishing them from carnivorous Cetaceans and Pinnipeds.
Updated On: Aug 7, 2026
- Cetacean
- Sirenian
- Pinniped
- Fissiped
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the biological classification (Order) of the marine mammal Dugong.
Detailed Explanation:
• Definition and Taxonomy: The Dugong (Dugong dugon) is a large marine mammal that belongs to the order Sirenia. This order includes herbivores that live in swampy areas, rivers, or coastal waters.
• Characteristics of Sirenians: Members of Sirenia are the only completely aquatic herbivorous mammals. They are often called "sea cows" because they graze on seagrasses. They have a fusiform body, no dorsal fin, and their forelimbs are modified into flippers.
• Distinction from other orders:
• Cetaceans: Includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. They are primarily carnivorous or filter feeders and have a different evolutionary lineage.
• Pinnipeds: Includes seals, sea lions, and walruses. They are semi-aquatic carnivores with four webbed flippers.
• Fissipeds: Refers to mammals with divided toes, typically terrestrial carnivores like otters or bears (specifically polar bears in a marine context).
• Conservation Status: Dugongs are found in the coastal waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. They are currently listed as Vulnerable due to habitat loss (seagrass meadows) and entanglement in fishing gear.
Step 2: Final Answer:
The Dugong belongs to the order Sirenian.
The question asks for the biological classification (Order) of the marine mammal Dugong.
Detailed Explanation:
• Definition and Taxonomy: The Dugong (Dugong dugon) is a large marine mammal that belongs to the order Sirenia. This order includes herbivores that live in swampy areas, rivers, or coastal waters.
• Characteristics of Sirenians: Members of Sirenia are the only completely aquatic herbivorous mammals. They are often called "sea cows" because they graze on seagrasses. They have a fusiform body, no dorsal fin, and their forelimbs are modified into flippers.
• Distinction from other orders:
• Cetaceans: Includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. They are primarily carnivorous or filter feeders and have a different evolutionary lineage.
• Pinnipeds: Includes seals, sea lions, and walruses. They are semi-aquatic carnivores with four webbed flippers.
• Fissipeds: Refers to mammals with divided toes, typically terrestrial carnivores like otters or bears (specifically polar bears in a marine context).
• Conservation Status: Dugongs are found in the coastal waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. They are currently listed as Vulnerable due to habitat loss (seagrass meadows) and entanglement in fishing gear.
Step 2: Final Answer:
The Dugong belongs to the order Sirenian.
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