Irrawaddy Dolphin
Orcaella brevirostris
Conservation Status
EndangeredMammalia · Cetacea · Delphinidae
About
The Irrawaddy dolphin is a euryhaline species of oceanic dolphin found in scattered subpopulations near sea coasts and in estuaries and rivers in parts of the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia. It closely resembles the Australian snubfin dolphin, which was not described as a separate species until 2005. It has a slate blue to a slate gray color. Although found in much of the riverine and marine zones of South and Southeast Asia, the only concentrated lagoon populations are found in Chilika Lake in Odisha, India, and Songkhla Lake in southern Thailand.
Fun Fact
For example, the Malampaya population, first discovered and described in 1986, at the time consisted of 77 individuals.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Lives in brackish water near coasts, river mouths, and estuaries.
Diet
Carnivore
Lifespan
30 years
Threats
- Habitat Loss
- Poaching and Hunting
- Human-Wildlife Conflict
- Disease