Dugong

Photo: Martin Kostal · © all rights reserved

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.