Main Differences Between a Dugong and a Manatee Here are the top five main differences between a dugong and a manatee: Appearance: Dugongs and manatees are very similar in appearance, with no dorsal fins and snouts to feed on the ocean floor. Saying this, manatees have unique cervical vertebrae of only seven, whereas all other mammals have seven. 1. They aren't in the same family Manatees and dugongs may be of the same order, but they are not of the same family classification. Manatees are members of the Trichechide family, and dugongs are members of the Dugongidae family. 2. Manatees are larger Manatee under the ocean | image by Koji Kamei via Pexels
Dugong vs Manatee 9 Key Differences Explained AZ Animals
Dugongs are smaller and even slimmer than manatees, while manatees tend to have a rounder, chunkier appearance. Dugongs have a downturned, longer snout than manatees have, while manatees have no incisors or molars and instead simply have cheek teeth. Dugongs have fluke-like tails similar to a whale's, while manatees have paddle-shaped tails. Dugongs' nostrils are located further back on their heads, whereas manatees have theirs near the tip of their snouts. The 9 Key Differences Between Dugongs and Manatees Dugongs and Manatees: Size One of the most noticeable differences between a dugong vs manatee is their respective size. On average, manatees grow longer and heavier than dugongs, although individual dugongs can grow bigger than most manatees. Tusks and teeth: This is perhaps the most recognizable difference between these two animals; adult male dugongs have overgrown incisors sticking out from their mouths. These incisors resemble the tusks of an elephant, only smaller. Manatees, however, don't have these tusks at all. Their teeth are quite peculiar.
Manatee & Dugong The Differences YouTube
"Manatees have round, paddle-like tails, while dugongs have fluke tails like whales. Manatees can grow longer and heavier than dugongs. They are referred to as sea cows because they use their strong, cleft upper lips to graze on sea grasses they uproot from the sea floor. Though manatees and dugongs have a lot in common, they are different animals with distinct characteristics. Both dugongs and manatees are part of the same taxonomic order, Sirena. The word "siren" means mermaid in many languages, a nod to the animals' history of being mistaken for mermaids. Manatees and dugongs are related to each other and while they are very similar in appearance and behavior, there is one key difference - their tails. Manatees have paddle-shaped tails and dugongs have fluked tails, giving it a whale-like appearance. Dugongs also have good hearing, but unlike manatees, their eyesight is very poor. Adult dugongs are usually around eight to ten feet in length. Where They Live Relative to their species name, manatees are found in specific parts of the world.
World Wildlife Day Commonly confused pairs of animals and how to tell
Physical Differences While manatees and dugongs may look very similar, there are some key differences that make them distinguishable from each other. Two of the biggest differences are the tails and snouts of these two creatures. Manatees have a rounded, flat tail shaped like a paddle with only one lobe. Evolution Dugongs are part of the Sirenia order of placental mammals which comprises modern "sea cows" ( manatees as well as dugongs) and their extinct relatives. Sirenia are the only extant herbivorous marine mammals and the only group of herbivorous mammals to have become completely aquatic.
One major difference between dugongs and manatees is their habitat. Dugongs never leave saltwater. They spend their entire life in shallow, sheltered coastal areas such as bays and mangrove swamps. Manatees, on the other hand, can be found both in fresh and saltwater. The main difference between Dugongs and manatees is their features like snout, teeth, and flippers. The snout of the dugong is larger, and dugongs also don't have a nail on their flippers, unlike manatees. Let's take a closer look at Manatees vs. Dugongs Table of Contents What Are Dugongs?
World Wildlife Day Commonly confused pairs of animals and how to tell
Dugong vs. Manatee Lesson Summary Order Sirenia: Manatees & Dugongs Upon first glance, manatees and dugongs look almost identical. Both are quite round, grey, slow-moving herbivores that. Today, we'll compare the size, habitat, appearance, and behavior of a dugong vs. a manatee. Here are nine key differences between dugongs and manatees. Learn more. Dugongs vs. Manatees: Size. Dugong: Up to 13.32 feet, 551 to 2,240 pounds Manatee: Up to 15.1 feet, 800 to 3,913 pounds.
