Dugong

The Dugong, as mentioned in my recent piece titled A Mermaid’s Song, is both strange and wondrous.  A member of the order sirenia, dugongs are basically…Sea Cows, mammoth and lumbering, it’s an odd thing that they’re famous for having been mistaken as mermaids by lonely fishermen.  Their days consist of lazing about in the shallow coastal waters of 37 different nations, munching on kelp and other goodies found on the seabed and watching out for marine predators like sharks, killer whales and crocodiles.  One look at the picture and you have to wonder how anyone could mistake that mug for beautiful woman.