Dolphin vs. Dugong — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Dolphin and Dugong
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Compare with Definitions
Dolphin
Dolphin is the common name of aquatic mammals within the infraorder Cetacea. The term dolphin usually refers to the extant families Delphinidae (the oceanic dolphins), Platanistidae (the Indian river dolphins), named Iniidae (the New World river dolphins), and Pontoporiidae (the brackish dolphins), and the extinct Lipotidae (baiji or Chinese river dolphin).
Dugong
The dugong (; Dugong dugon) is a medium-sized marine mammal. It is one of four living species of the order Sirenia, which also includes three species of manatees.
Dolphin
Any of various marine toothed whales of the family Delphinidae, having a beaklike snout, a curved dorsal fin, and a slender streamlined body.
Dugong
A herbivorous marine mammal (Dugong dugon), native to tropical coastal waters of the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and southwest Pacific Ocean and having flipperlike forelimbs and a notched tail.
Dolphin
Any of several toothed whales inhabiting rivers and estuaries in South America and South Asia, having a long narrow beak, broad flippers, a flexible neck, and usually a reduced dorsal fin. A species native to the Yangtze River is thought to be extinct. Also called river dolphin.
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Dugong
A plant-eating aquatic marine mammal, of the genus Dugong, found in tropical regions.
Dolphin
See dolphinfish.
Dugong
An aquatic herbivorous mammal (Halicore dugong), of the order Sirenia, allied to the manatee, but with a bilobed tail. It inhabits the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, East Indies, and Australia.
Dolphin
See pompano dolphinfish.
Dugong
Sirenian tusked mammal found from eastern Africa to Australia; the flat tail is bilobate
Dolphin
A buoy, pile, or group of piles used for mooring boats.
Dolphin
A group of piles used as a fender, as at a dock or around a bridge pier.
Dolphin
A carnivorous aquatic mammal in one of several families of order Cetacea, famed for its intelligence and occasional willingness to approach humans.
Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus, (Atlantic bottlenose dolphin) the most well-known species.
Dolphin
A fish, the mahi-mahi or dorado, Coryphaena hippurus, with a dorsal fin that runs the length of the body, also known for iridescent coloration.
Dolphin
(heraldry) A depiction of a fish, with a broad indented fin, usually embowed.
Dolphin
The dauphin, eldest son of the kings of France.
Dolphin
(history) A mass of iron or lead hung from the yardarm, in readiness to be dropped through the deck and the hull of an enemy's vessel to sink it.
Dolphin
(nautical) A kind of wreath or strap of plaited cordage.
Dolphin
(nautical) A spar or buoy held by an anchor and furnished with a ring to which ships may fasten their cables.
Dolphin
(nautical) A mooring post on a wharf or beach.
Dolphin
(nautical) A permanent fender designed to protect a heavy boat or coastal structure from the impact of large floating objects such as ice or floating logs.
Dolphin
One of the handles above the trunnions by which a gun was lifted.
Dolphin
(nautical) A man-made semi submerged maritime structure, usually installed to provide a fixed structure for temporary mooring, to prevent ships from drifting to shallow water or to serve as base for navigational aids.
Dolphin
A cetacean of the genus Delphinus and allied genera (esp. Delphinus delphis); the true dolphin.
Dolphin
The Coryphæna hippuris, a fish of about five feet in length, celebrated for its surprising changes of color when dying. It is the fish commonly known as the dolphin. The term is also applied to the related Coryphaena equisetis. Called also dolphinfish and (especially in Hawaii) mahimahi. See also dolphinfish and Coryphænoid.
Dolphin
A mass of iron or lead hung from the yardarm, in readiness to be dropped on the deck of an enemy's vessel.
Dolphin
A kind of wreath or strap of plaited cordage.
Dolphin
In old ordnance, one of the handles above the trunnions by which a cannon was lifted.
Dolphin
Large slender food and game fish widely distributed in warm seas (especially around Hawaii)
Dolphin
Any of various small toothed whales with a beaklike snout; larger than porpoises
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