Habitat Selectivity
Like whales and dolphins, dugongs can't breathe underwater, and must surface periodically for oxygen. Unlike those animals, though, dugongs have relatively little lung capacity, and can only hold their breath for about 12 minutes. Because they feed by grazing on plant life on the ocean floor, they have adapted to living in shallow water environments, so they can scour for food more efficiently. They rarely live in deep waters, as they have learned that shallow environments are a better fit for their feeding habits and typically slow swimming.
Navigating the Environment
Dugongs are not blessed with many particularly keen senses, but they have adapted their behavior so that they can more easily find food and navigate the environment. Instead of relying on their poor eyesight to scan the ocean floor, they feel around using their sensitive snouts, which are covered in bristles that can detect underwater grasses. This makes it easier to find food in the murky, turbid waters where dugongs are typically found.