Dugong – State Animal
Dugong, an endangered, herbivorous, marine mammal, also known as the Sea Cow is the State Animal of the island. It mainly feeds on sea-grass and other aquatic vegetation. Dugong is distributed in shallow tropical waters in Indo-Pacific Region. The animal is about three-meters length and weighs about 400 kg. In India, Dugong is reported from Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Within A&N Islands Dugong has been reported from Ritchie’s Archipelago, North Reef, Little Andaman and parts of Nicobars.