Dugong (儒艮) - dugong (English spelling)

Japanese: ジュゴン(儒艮) - ジュゴン（英語表記）dugong

In the Ryukyu Islands, it is also called Zan or Zannoio (meaning rhino fish). A mammal of the Dugongidae family in the order Crab (illustration). It is a marine animal with a spindle-shaped body and a crescent-shaped tail fin that spreads out on both sides at the end of its tail. Its hind legs have degenerated and are not visible, and its forelimbs are fin-like, with five phalanges inside. There is a pair of nipples on the ventral side at the base of the forelimbs (arms), and it is said to be the animal that inspired the image of mermaid legends, but its face does not evoke the image of a beautiful woman. It lacks canines, but its second incisors are long and tusk-like, and its growth lines indicate its age.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

南西諸島ではザン，ザンノイオ(サイの魚の意)とも呼ぶ。カイギュウ目ジュゴン科の哺乳類（イラスト）。体は紡錘形で尾部先端に左右に広がる半月形の尾びれを有する海獣。後足は退化して見えず，前肢はひれ状であるが，中には5本の指骨がある。前肢(腕)の付け根の腹側に1対の乳頭があり，人魚伝説のイメージとなった動物といわれるが，その顔からはとても美人は浮かばない。犬歯は欠くが，第2門歯が長大できば状となっており，その成長線から年齢がわかる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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