scubaseason

Dugong

Dugong dugon

Sighting evidence at Abu Dabbab Bay, Marsa Alam

Dugong

Photo: Luis P. B. · CC BY-NC

Dugongs are the Red Sea's only fully marine herbivorous mammal, returning to Abu Dabbab's seagrass meadows daily to graze at 3–8 m depth. They consume up to 40 kg of Halodule seagrass per day, leaving characteristic feeding trails across the sandy bottom that guide divers toward resident animals. Slow to reproduce and vulnerable to boat strike, Abu Dabbab's population is closely monitored and each individual is identifiable by unique scarring.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Dugong is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.

Also seen at other sites