The Dugong lives in shallow, calm, warm, subtropical and tropical coastal waters. It is found from Shark Bay in Western Australia and around to the Northern coastline to Moreton Bay in Queensland. It grows between 3 - 3.5 metres and can weigh 420 kg.
They are alert and treat humans with friendly curiosity.

It is the only marine plant eating mammal. Large and blunt muzzled, it has flippers and horitontal tail flukes. It is grey to brown above and paler below. The Dugong's powerful tail, with its flukes can propel the animal at up to 22 klm per hour. Its paddle like forelimbs are used for steering, feeding and pushing the animal along the seabed.

Dense bones keep a Dugong on the sea bottom while it uses its broad upper lip to gather seagrasses into its mouth. Dugongs feed in herds. A female does not breed until she is 9 years old and a pregnancy lasts 12 months. Her calf rides on her back except when suckling and it stays with its mother for up to 2 years.

A Dugong may live up to 55 years but it is a vulnerable species because its habitat is being altered, it may be hunted, caught in nets or hurt by powerboat propellors.