Name: Dugong

Description: The dugong's massive body is about 2.4 to 2.7 m (about 8 to 9 ft) long and tapers to a forked, horizontally flattened tail. The forelimbs are rounded flippers; no hind limbs remain. Large, muscular lips (the upper one cleft) are used for tearing off water plants. Molars and hard pads at the front of the jaws grind the food; the male also has two small, tusks like incisors. Dugongs were sometimes viewed by early voyagers as mermaids and were identified with the Sirens of mythology.

Reason for being endangered: This harmless sea animal has long been hunted for its meat, blubber, oil, and hide, and today the world population of dugongs are reduced to less than 40,000. They are now classified as endangered.

Where you can find them: It inhabits in the tropical waters of the Indian and western Pacific oceans.