Read the excerpt from "Protecting the Great Barrier Reef." Imagine a place of tremendous natural beauty above and below the water. From the air, you see sprawling patterns of coral reef. Interspersed are green vistas of vegetated islands and white wisps of sandy beach. Dive underwater and you find brightly colored coral, fish, and underwater plant life. There are dolphins, whales, dugongs, and dozens of other unique species. Scattered across the seascape are islands with names like Lizard Island, Pumpkin Island, and Daydream Island. This place is no daydream—it's the Great Barrier Reef.

Select the word or phrase from the excerpt that helps the reader understand the meaning of the word dugongs.

brightly colored
islands with names
underwater plant life
unique species