Many believe that dugongs were the inspiration behind ancient seafaring tales of mermaids and sirens, but these strange looking marine mammals resemble manatees more than mermaids. Dugongs, which are often known as ‘sea cows’, are found in shallow and warm coastal waters spreading across East Africa to Australia, including the Red Sea, Indian Ocean and the Pacific. Typically, the tail of a dugong is forked like that of a shark, and their front flippers can grow to as much as half a metre. These creatures are extremely large, and on average, adults can reach up to three meters in length, and can weigh around 400kg.