dugong

noun

du·​gong ˈdü-ˌgäŋ 

-ˌgȯŋ

plural dugongs also dugong

: an aquatic, herbivorous, usually brownish-gray mammal (Dugong dugon) that inhabits warm coastal waters chiefly of southern Asia, Australia, and eastern Africa and resembles the related manatee but differs in having a notched tail divided into two lobes and upper incisors which grow into small tusks in the male

Note: The dugong commonly attains a length of 8 feet (2.4 meters) or more. It is the sole living species in its taxonomic family (Dugongidae) which also includes the extinct Steller's sea cow and various sirenians known only from fossilized remains.

Illustration of dugong

Examples of dugong in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Thankfully, many safari outfitters offer dynamic itineraries—think pairing the quintessential South African safari with a surreal stint in Namibia or a blue safari grand finale in Mozambique filled with whales, dolphins, whale sharks, and dugongs—designed to engage animal lovers of all ages. —Kathryn Romeyn, AFAR Media, 11 Feb. 2025

While the Indian Ocean boasts iconic creatures spanning from the green sea turtle to the dugong, the manta ray has captivated cultures across the globe for centuries, earning a reputation for their large size and gentle disposition. —Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025

Despite his eternal smile suggesting otherwise, this male dugong seemed visibly annoyed by the dozen remoras hitching a free ride on him. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025

Another tiger shark caught by the team regurgitated half a dugong, also equally unexpected. —Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, genus name, probably from dugung in Cebuano or a related Austronesian language of the central Philippines

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

dugong

noun

du·​gong ˈdü-ˌgäng 

-ˌgȯng

: a mammal that lives in water, eats plants, and is related to the manatees but has a two-lobed tail and tusks in the male