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 official Gym battle with Pryce.
A Dewgong appeared in Up Close and Personable! in the lake near the Pokémon Summer Academy. Ash and Angie stumbled upon it, and Ash decided to use the opportunity to draw it.
Goh caught a Dewgong in JN010. A second Dewgong caught its attention. Goh’s then fell in love with it and chased after it, leading its Trainer and Ash into a storm. Goh's Dewgong returned in JN011 and JN015 and will again in JN023.
Minor appearances
Dewgong in Showdown at the Po-ké Corral were living at Professor Oak's Laboratory. They were seen again in The Rivalry Revival.
A Dewgong appeared in Pikachu's Vacation as one of the Pokémon seen at the Pokémon Theme Park.
A Dewgong from an unnamed island played with Ash in The Joy of Pokémon but almost caused him to drown.
Prima used her Dewgong in The Mandarin Island Miss Match, battling and defeating a Trainer's Marowak.
Dewgong in The Power of One sensed, like most other Pokémon, the disturbance caused by Lawrence III.
A Dewgong appeared in a fantasy in The Totodile Duel.
A Dewgong appeared in Snorlax Snowman.
Multiple Dewgong are 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 was stolen from the Pokémon Center of Blue Point Isle in Around the Whirlpool.
A Dewgong was at a Pokémon Center in The Legend of Thunder!.
As seen in Nice Pryce Baby, Pryce owns several other Dewgong than the one he used for battle. They are kept at the Mahogany Gym.
Multiple Dewgong appeared in Destiny Deoxys.
A Coordinator's Dewgong appeared in Harley Rides Again.
The Marina Group employ Dewgong for their Marina Underwater Pokémon Show in Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea.
A Dewgong appeared in PK19 on the icy island.
A Coordinator's Dewgong competed in the Arrowroot Town Pokémon Contest in Dawn of a Royal Day!.
A Dewgong appeared in the opening sequence of Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
A Dewgong appeared in I Choose You!.
A Dewgong played with the balloon that Lana's Popplio created in Alola, Kanto!.
A Dewgong appeared in The Power of Us.
Three Dewgong appeared in Legend? Go! Friends? Go!, where they were seen underwater outside Vermilion City.
A Trainer's Dewgong participating in the Pokémon Drift Ice Race in JN008.
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.
In Pokémon: Twilight Wings
Multiple Dewgong appeared in Early-Evening Waves as residents of a lake where Nessa was doing a photo shoot.
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.