Dewgong is a pinniped Pokémon with a snowy white, furry body. Its fur renders it virtually invisible in snowy conditions. Its face has two black eyes, a black nose, and two tusks extending from its upper jaw. It has a streamlined body with two front flippers and a long flowing tail. Even in extremely cold and ice-packed waters, its tail allows it to be a swift and agile swimmer at speeds of 8 knots. On top of its head is a sharp horn, which allows it to cut through the thickest ice floes.
It lives on icebergs adrift in frigid ocean waters. It thrives in lower temperatures, becoming increasingly more active the colder the weather. By storing thermal energy within its body, it is completely unharmed by even the most intense freezing weather. During daylight hours, it sleeps on bitterly cold ice or under shallow water. However, at night when the temperature drops, it becomes a hunter and searches for prey such as Wishiwashi. Following a meal, it sunbathes on the beach. This raises its body temperature and aids in digestion.
In the main series
Major appearances
The Seel belonging to the Cerulean Gym evolved into Dewgong in The Misty Mermaid.
Other
A Dewgong appeared in Mewtwo Strikes Back, under the ownership of Neesha. She first used it to travel to New Island. It was later one of the Pokémon that were captured and cloned by Mewtwo. The Dewgong clone reappeared in Mewtwo Returns. Neesha's Dewgong reappeared in Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution, a remake of Mewtwo Strikes Back, where it played the same role.
A Dewgong appeared under the ownership of Pryce in Rage of Innocence, As Cold as Pryce, and Nice Pryce Baby. It was first used in an unofficial battle against Ash's Phanpy and won. It was later defeated by Cyndaquil during Ash's Gym battle with Pryce.
A Dewgong appeared in Up Close and Personable! as a resident of the lake near the Pokémon Summer Academy. Ash and Angie stumbled upon it, and Ash decided to use the opportunity to draw it.
A Dewgong will appear in SS010.
Minor appearances
Multiple Dewgong appeared in Showdown at the Po-ké Corral, where they were among the Pokémon living at Professor Oak's Laboratory. They reappeared in The Rivalry Revival.
A Dewgong appeared in Pikachu's Vacation as one of the Pokémon seen at the Pokémon Theme Park.
A Dewgong appeared in The Joy of Pokémon as a resident of an unnamed island. It played with Ash but instead almost caused him to drown.
A Dewgong briefly appeared in The Mandarin Island Miss Match, under the ownership of Prima. It was seen defeating a Trainer's Marowak in a battle.
Multiple Dewgong appeared in The Power of One.
A Dewgong appeared in a fantasy in The Totodile Duel.
A Dewgong appeared in Snorlax Snowman.
Multiple Dewgong appeared in the opening intro of Celebi: The Voice of the Forest, which was reused for Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias.
Three Dewgong appeared in The Joy of Water Pokémon. Two were living in Lake Lucid, while the other one was receiving special treatment in a salt bath tank in the Pokémon Center located near the lake.
A Dewgong appeared in Around the Whirlpool as one of the Pokémon stolen from the Pokémon Center of Blue Point Isle.
A Dewgong appeared in The Legend of Thunder! as one of the Pokémon seen at a Pokémon Center.
Multiple Dewgong appeared in Nice Pryce Baby, under the ownership of Pryce. They were seen at the Mahogany Gym.
Multiple Dewgong appeared in Destiny Deoxys.
A Coordinator's Dewgong appeared in Harley Rides Again.
A Dewgong appeared in Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, under the ownership of Lizabeth and her family. It was among the Water-type Pokémon used for their Marina Underwater Pokémon Show.
A Dewgong appeared in PK19 as a resident of an icy island.
A Coordinator's Dewgong appeared in Dawn of a Royal Day!, where it was seen competing in the Arrowroot Town Pokémon Contest.
A Dewgong appeared in the opening sequence of Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
A Dewgong appeared in I Choose You!.
A Dewgong appeared in Alola, Kanto!, where it played with a balloon that Lana's Popplio created.
A Dewgong appeared in The Power of Us.
Three Dewgong appeared in SS002, where they were seen underwater outside Vermilion City.
A Trainer's Dewgong appeared in SS008, where it was among the Pokémon participating in the Pokémon Drift Ice Race.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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EP061
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Dewgong
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Ash's Pokédex
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Dewgong, the Sea Lion Pokémon. The evolved form of Seel. This Water/Ice Pokémon can easily resist extreme cold.
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In Pokémon Origins
Lorelei used a Dewgong in the Pokémon League in File: 4 Charizard, where it battled Red and lost.
Origin
Dewgong is based on a dugong. It is of the same order as the manatee, which resides in the Western Hemisphere. The four known living members of the order all currently inhabit warm waters, a source of conflict with Dewgong's Ice-type affinity. However, an extinct closer evolutionary relative from the same family (Dugongidae), the Steller's sea cow, once existed in the cold Arctic waters of the Bering Sea. While it is suggested that Dewgong is partially inspired by polar earless seals like the harp seal, the ringed seal, et al.; the Sirenian fossil record suggests the prominence of enlarged incisors that are absent in the modern variants of the dugong, a feature that is noticeable in Dewgong.
It may also draw inspiration from narwhals, a toothed whale with a protruding tusk and lives in the Arctic Ocean.
Name origin
Dewgong is a portmanteau of dew and dugong (a relative of the manatee). Dew may refer to the natural phenomenon of water vapor condensing in the presence of a cold surface. Dew formation at sufficiently low temperatures turns into frost, a possible reference to Dewgong's dual type affinity.
Jugon is a corruption of dugong.