# Dugong

> A seagrass-eating marine mammal dependent on healthy coastal waters. Dugong life connects seagrass meadows, sheltered bays, and human activity in shallow seas.

Source: https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/dugong/ · Updated 7 October 2026 · English · Bahasa Indonesia: https://panduanhewan.org/id/spesies/dugong/
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**Review status:** Approved by team on 2026-10-07. Approval covers this version’s narrative, facts, quick answers and recorded locations in both languages.

## Quick answer

The dugong (*Dugong dugon*) is a marine animal in the family Dugongidae. Range in Indonesia: Indonesian coastal waters; regional records extend from Sumatra to Papua. Diet: seagrass; a herbivore. IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable. It is a legally protected species in Indonesia (Regulation P.106/2018).

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | *Dugong dugon* |
| Group | Marine |
| Family | Dugongidae |
| Range in Indonesia | Indonesian coastal waters; regional records extend from Sumatra to Papua |
| Linked habitats | [Mangroves](https://panduanhewan.org/en/habitats/mangroves/) |
| Main food | Seagrass |
| Breathing | Breathes air at the surface |
| Main habitat | Coastal seagrass meadows |
| IUCN status | Vulnerable · [IUCN Red List (via GBIF)](https://www.gbif.org/species/9729967) · checked 1 October 2026 |
| Legal protection in Indonesia | Protected · [Regulation P.106/2018](https://jdih.kehutanan.go.id/new2/uploads/files/P_106_2018_JENIS_TSL_menlhk_07252019152513.pdf) · annex no. 50 |
| Maximum body length | Up to 4.1 m · [KKP — Keputusan Menteri Kelautan dan Perikanan Nomor 66 Tahun 2025 (lampiran deskripsi)](https://jdih.kkp.go.id/peraturan/-2025kepmenkp066_1762414639.pdf) |
| Other Indonesian name | Duyung · [KKP — Keputusan Menteri Kelautan dan Perikanan Nomor 66 Tahun 2025](https://jdih.kkp.go.id/peraturan/-2025kepmenkp066_1762414639.pdf) |
| Diet type | Herbivore (plant-eater) — seagrass grazer · [Animal Diversity Web](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dugong_dugon/) |
| Reproduction | Giving birth to live young (viviparous) · [Animal Diversity Web](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dugong_dugon/) |
| Venom or poison | Not venomous · [Animal Diversity Web: Dugong dugon](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dugong_dugon/) |
| Active | Cathemeral (active irregularly by day and night) — Its feeding times follow the tides more than day or night. · [Sheppard, J.K. (2008) The spatial ecology of dugongs: applications to conservation management. PhD thesis, James Cook University (ResearchOnline@JCU)](https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/2097/13/JCU_2097_Sheppard_2008_thesis.pdf) |

## Recognising a seagrass grazer

Dugongs have horizontally divided tail flukes, a downward-facing snout, and no dorsal fin. Their mouth is suited to gathering plants from the seabed. As mammals, they still need to return to the surface to breathe.

Evidence: [University of Michigan — Dugong dugon](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dugong_dugon/)

## Seagrass is not seaweed

Seagrasses are flowering plants living in the sea. Their meadows provide food for dugongs and green turtles. Protecting dugongs therefore includes protecting plants often invisible from the beach, alongside the animals people notice at the surface.

Evidence: [Great Barrier Reef Foundation — What is seagrass?](https://barrierreef.org/news/explainers/what-is-seagrass-great-barrier-reef)

## Reading coastal habitat accurately

Dugongs depend on seagrass, rather than mangrove roots as their main food. The mangrove link here represents the wider coastal landscape. A 2005 CMS report records dugongs across Indonesian islands; that historical review does not establish current presence or numbers in individual bays.

Evidence: [CMS — Dugong MOU: biology, threats and conservation plan](https://dugong.cms.int/legalinstrument/dugong-mou) · [CMS Technical Series 9 (2005) — Dugong distribution, section 3.1.6, p.83](https://www.cms.int/sites/default/files/publication/tech_series_no9_seamam_3_0_0.pdf)

## Pressures affect animals and habitat

Nets and vessel strikes can harm dugongs directly. Pollution and coastal change can also damage seagrass feeding grounds. Conservation needs to address both levels; water that looks clear does not by itself establish that a seagrass meadow is healthy.

Evidence: [University of Michigan — Dugong dugon](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dugong_dugon/) · [CMS — Dugong MOU: biology, threats and conservation plan](https://dugong.cms.int/legalinstrument/dugong-mou)

## Choosing useful support

The CMS conservation framework addresses dugongs together with their habitat. When assessing a local programme, look for seagrass monitoring, work with fishing communities, and injured-animal reporting. Do not buy dugong parts or approach an animal to obtain an interaction.

Evidence: [CMS — Dugong MOU: biology, threats and conservation plan](https://dugong.cms.int/legalinstrument/dugong-mou)

## Scientific classification of the Dugong

| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Sirenia |
| Family | Dugongidae |
| Genus | *Dugong* |
| Species | *Dugong dugon* |

Source: [GBIF Backbone Taxonomy](https://www.gbif.org/dataset/d7dddbf4-2cf0-4f39-9b2a-bb099caae36c)

## Common questions about the dugong

### What is the scientific name of the dugong?

The scientific name of the dugong is *Dugong dugon*, in the family Dugongidae.

### What kind of animal is the dugong?

The dugong is a marine animal in the family Dugongidae. By diet it is a herbivore (plant-eater): a seagrass grazer.

### Where does the dugong live in Indonesia?

In Indonesia, this guide records the dugong in: Indonesian coastal waters; regional records extend from Sumatra to Papua.

Source-supported habitats: [Mangroves](https://panduanhewan.org/en/habitats/mangroves/).

### What does the dugong eat?

Diet of the dugong (main food): seagrass. That makes it a herbivore (plant-eater). Source: [Animal Diversity Web](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dugong_dugon/).

### How does the dugong reproduce?

The dugong reproduces by giving birth to live young (viviparous). Source: [Animal Diversity Web](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dugong_dugon/).

### Is the dugong venomous?

No. The dugong is not venomous. Source: [Animal Diversity Web: Dugong dugon](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dugong_dugon/).

Do not catch, handle or disturb wild animals. If bitten, stung or exposed to its toxins, go to the nearest health facility straight away.

### Is the dugong nocturnal?

The cited source records the dugong as cathemeral (active irregularly by day and night). Its feeding times follow the tides more than day or night. Source: [Sheppard, J.K. (2008) The spatial ecology of dugongs: applications to conservation management. PhD thesis, James Cook University (ResearchOnline@JCU)](https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/2097/13/JCU_2097_Sheppard_2008_thesis.pdf).

See also [the list of nocturnal and diurnal animals in Indonesia](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/nocturnal-and-diurnal-animals/).

### How big is the dugong?

Maximum body length: Up to 4.1 m. Source: [KKP — Keputusan Menteri Kelautan dan Perikanan Nomor 66 Tahun 2025 (lampiran deskripsi)](https://jdih.kkp.go.id/peraturan/-2025kepmenkp066_1762414639.pdf).

### What is the scientific classification of the dugong?

Scientific classification of the dugong: kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Mammalia, order Sirenia, family Dugongidae, genus *Dugong*, species *Dugong dugon*.

Source: [GBIF Backbone Taxonomy](https://www.gbif.org/dataset/d7dddbf4-2cf0-4f39-9b2a-bb099caae36c), adjusted to the ranks commonly used in school biology.

### Is the dugong endangered?

Yes. On the IUCN Red List, the dugong is listed as Vulnerable: it is considered to face a high risk of extinction in the wild. Source: [IUCN Red List (via GBIF)](https://www.gbif.org/species/9729967), checked 1 October 2026.

This global category is separate from national legal protection. [Is the dugong protected in Indonesia?](#protected)

### Is the dugong protected in Indonesia?

Yes. The dugong (*Dugong dugon*) is a protected species in Indonesia under [Environment and Forestry Ministerial Regulation No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 on protected plant and animal species](https://jdih.kehutanan.go.id/new2/uploads/files/P_106_2018_JENIS_TSL_menlhk_07252019152513.pdf) (annex, entry 50).

It is also fully protected under Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministerial Decree No. 66 of 2025 on protected fish species (first provision, entry 37).

Article 21(2) of Law No. 5 of 1990, as amended by Law No. 32 of 2024, prohibits anyone from hunting, catching, injuring, killing, storing, owning, keeping, transporting or trading a protected animal, alive or dead, including its body parts, eggs and nests.

If you see this animal being traded, kept or injured, contact the [local BKSDA office](https://panduanhewan.org/en/bksda-offices/).

### Can the dugong be kept as a pet?

No. Because the dugong is a protected species, catching, owning, keeping, transporting or trading it without a permit is prohibited by law. Trading without a permit through electronic media is also prohibited.

If you see this animal for sale or being kept, report it to the [local BKSDA office](https://panduanhewan.org/en/bksda-offices/).

## Sources & references

1. [University of Michigan — Dugong dugon](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dugong_dugon/)
2. [Great Barrier Reef Foundation — What is seagrass?](https://barrierreef.org/news/explainers/what-is-seagrass-great-barrier-reef)
3. [CMS — Dugong MOU: biology, threats and conservation plan](https://dugong.cms.int/legalinstrument/dugong-mou)
4. [CMS Technical Series 9 (2005) — Dugong distribution, section 3.1.6, p.83](https://www.cms.int/sites/default/files/publication/tech_series_no9_seamam_3_0_0.pdf)
5. [Peraturan Menteri LHK Nomor P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi](https://jdih.kehutanan.go.id/new2/uploads/files/P_106_2018_JENIS_TSL_menlhk_07252019152513.pdf)
6. [KKP — Keputusan Menteri Kelautan dan Perikanan Nomor 66 Tahun 2025 (lampiran deskripsi)](https://jdih.kkp.go.id/peraturan/-2025kepmenkp066_1762414639.pdf)
7. [Sheppard, J.K. (2008) The spatial ecology of dugongs: applications to conservation management. PhD thesis, James Cook University (ResearchOnline@JCU)](https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/2097/13/JCU_2097_Sheppard_2008_thesis.pdf)
8. [GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (GBIF)](https://www.gbif.org/dataset/d7dddbf4-2cf0-4f39-9b2a-bb099caae36c)

## Further reading

[Dugong: facts, threats and conservation](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dugong/) — World Animal Rescue Network.

_Related site: PanduanHewan’s founder is also a director of World Animal Rescue Network._

## Keep exploring

- [Green turtle](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/green-turtle/)
- [Mangroves](https://panduanhewan.org/en/habitats/mangroves/)
- [Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara](https://panduanhewan.org/en/organisations/ykan/)
- [Finding a Stranded Marine Animal](https://panduanhewan.org/en/emergency/stranded-marine-animal/)
- [Leatherback turtle](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/leatherback-turtle/)
- [Indonesian coelacanth](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/indonesian-coelacanth/)
- [Scalloped hammerhead shark](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/scalloped-hammerhead-shark/)
- [Spotted seahorse](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/spotted-seahorse/)
- [Java stingaree](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/java-stingaree/)

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Cite: PanduanHewan. (2026). Dugong. PanduanHewan.org. https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/dugong/