This infographic was inspired by a Dugong Skull which is housed in the University of Dundee’s D’Arcy zoology museum. Dugongs are not as well known as their cousin the Manatee. I wanted to shed light on and bring awareness to this unique animal.

The infographic is geared towards young learners. When I was a child, one fact that really sparked my interest in science and evolution is the retention of vestigial legs inside the bodies of marine mammals- a direct link to their terrestrial past.

I hoped in creating this infographic, I might inspire young (and young at heart) learners in the same way I was inspired.

Individual illustrations created in Procreate, Infographic designed in Adobe Photoshop.

Some fun facts about Dugongs:

• Dugong’s closest relative on land is the Elephant!

• Although Dugong and Manatees are the only two remaining members of the order Sirenia; they are actually only about as closely related as apes and monkey.

• Dugongs have a very unique skull shape. The bulbous maxilla and uniquely shaped mandible are designed to support a large fleshy snout, specifically tailored to digging in soil and ripping up chunks of seagrass.