With reference to 'dugong', a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a herbivorous marine animal. 2. It is found along the entire coast of India. 3. It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

States dugong is a sea-grass–dependent mammal and seagrasses (14 species) are recorded from the Indian coast; dugong presence is therefore tied to seagrass occurrence.

A student could compare the mapped distribution of seagrass beds around India (from external maps/data) to infer where dugongs could potentially occur and where they likely cannot.

States India has a long coastline divided into western and eastern coastal plains, implying varied coastal environments rather than a uniform coast.

Use a map to consider environmental differences between west and east coasts (e.g., submerged vs. emergent plains) to judge if dugong-suitable habitats are continuous along the entire coast.

Describes variation in coastal vegetation (mangroves sparse in Kerala, scrubby in parts of west coast, dense in Sundarbans), showing that coastal habitat types vary regionally.

Combine knowledge of regional habitat variation with seagrass dependence to identify coastal regions where dugongs are less likely (e.g., areas dominated by rocky shore or lacking seagrass).

Describes extensive deltas, lagoons and straight shorelines on the eastern coast (Chilika, Pulicat, etc.), indicating presence of sheltered shallow waters that can support seagrass beds.

A student could target these lagoon/delta regions on a map as likely dugong habitats and contrast them with coastline segments lacking such features to evaluate continuity of dugong distribution.

Gives a concrete example of marine species (leatherback and loggerhead turtles) being listed in Schedule I, showing that marine fauna are included in Schedule I.

A student could combine this with basic fact that dugongs are marine mammals occurring in Indian waters and consider that marine species with high conservation concern may be Schedule I candidates to test the statement.

States that sharks, rays and skates (Elasmobranchs) are listed in Schedule I and that specific sea-related policies were made for enforcement, indicating Schedule I covers diverse threatened marine taxa.

A student could note that the Act's Schedule I applies to multiple marine groups and therefore check whether dugong, another marine species, is treated similarly under Schedule I.

Explains that the rating of Schedules I to V is based on risk of survival, i.e., Schedule I contains taxa at highest risk and merits strongest protection.

Knowing dugongs are considered at high extinction risk globally (basic external fact), a student could infer dugong is plausibly a Schedule I candidate and then verify the official list.

States the 1972 Act's main objective is to provide protection to endangered species listed in the schedules and to give legal support to protected areas, framing the schedules as the authoritative list for endangered species.

A student could use that definition plus an external check of dugong's conservation status and Indian distribution to judge whether it ought to appear in Schedule I, then consult the schedule list to confirm.

Provides an example (snow leopard) of a terrestrial species explicitly noted as 'categorized ... in the Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (protection) Act 1972', illustrating that Schedule I includes iconic high-risk species.

By analogy, a student could treat dugong as another high-profile, high-risk species and check whether similar listing practice applies to it in the Schedule I list.