Dugongs and manatees look similar, but differ in the following ways: Manatees have a large, horizontal, paddle

-shaped tail, which moves up and down when the animal swims, rather like a beaver's. The tail flukes of a dugong are like those of a whale and have a slightly concave trailing edge. Manatees have six neck vertebrae. Dugongs and nearly all other mammals have seven neck vertebrae. The exceptions are various sloths with 6 -9 neck vertebrae and possibly the giraffe, which may have 8 neck vertebrae. T here is some controversy about the giraffe as to whether one of the vertebrae is the eighth neck vertebra or the first thoracic vertebra. I read in one source that pangolins may have 6 neck vertebrae, but have not found confirmation of this. The West Indian and West African manatees have rudimentary nails on their forelimbs. Amazonian manatees and dugongs do not. The dugong has its nostrils placed further back than is the case in manatees. Mature male dugongs have a pair of tusk -like incisors, while manatees do not. Manatees have developed a system of continuous replacement of their molars. As the calf is weaned and begins to eat vegetable matter, the mechanical stimulation involved in chewing starts a forward movement of the whole tooth row. New teeth entering at the back of the jaw push each row forward through the jawbone until the roots are eaten away and the tooth falls out at the front of the jaw. Dugongs have a different way to cope with tooth wear. Their two rear molars are open rooted and continue to grow. The crowns of these teeth are worn continuously, so they are simple and peg-like. The angle of the dugong's mouth is more pronounced than that in the manatee. The short, broad trunk-like snout ends in a downward-facing, highly flexible, horseshoe-shaped disc and a slit-like mouth. Because of this, the dugong is virtually obliged to feed on bottom-dwelling organisms, while manatees can also feed on plants growing at or near the surface. Dugongs spend all their life at sea, while manatees spend time in fresh water to varying degrees. One male manatee may have several female partners for mating, while a male dugong has one mate. Female manatees may give birth at 3 years of age and gives birth every 2 -3 years, while a female dugong does not usual ly give birth until she is 10 years old and gives birth every 3-5 years.

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CHARACTERISTICS LIFE REPRODUCTION HABITAT FOOD INTERACTION WITH OTHER SEX

PREDATION THREATS ORIGIN SIMILARITIES DIFFERENCES PARTS OF THEIR BODIES THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO ENVIRONMENT