Dugongs (Dugong dugon) are large long-lived (about 70 y) marine mammals. An adult dugong weighs up to 600 kg and measures up to 3 metres in length. The closest living relatives to dugongs are the three species of manatee: West Indian manatee Manatus latirostris, the Amazonian manatee Trichechus inunguis and the West African manatee Trichechus senegalensis. Dugongs are also distantly related to elephants and hyraxes.

Dugongs are streamlined, fast over short distances and are superbly adapted for a fully marine pelagic lifestyle. Their dolphin-like tail flukes provide propulsion whilst their front flippers help them to steer. Female dugongs feed their calves from nipples located under their front flippers. There is no obvious sexual dimorphism in terms of body size and shape, however the sexes can be determined by looking at the distance between the genital and anal slits: in females these are almost contiguous, whilst in males these are further apart. Adult males and very old female dugongs have large emergent tusks.

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