Q: With reference to ‘dugong’, a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
It is a herbivorous marine animal.
It is found along the, entire coast of India.
It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection. Act, 1972.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) 1 and 2
b) 2 only
c) 1 and 3
d) 3 only
The correct answer is 1 and 3 only.
Dugong
It is also called ‘Sea Cow’ and is one of the four surviving species in the Order Sirenia.
It is the only existing species of herbivorous mammal that lives exclusively in the sea including in India. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
It is protected in India and occurs in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Gulf of Kutch and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The skin of ‘dugong’ is thick and covered everywhere with fine hair which gives a prickly appearance in certain lights.
They live in shallow, sheltered coastal waters where they feed upon sea-grasses and algae (herbivorous).
At present, three areas of the Indian coast have a population of dugongs -the Gulf of Kutch, the Gulf of Mannar, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Vulnerable in IUCN Red List. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.
As in the Andaman Islands, the dugong has almost disappeared. They were hunted by mainland settlers for their meats and oil, and have also suffered from a loss of natural habitat (sea- grass beds). Hence, Statement 2 is not correct.
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