Irrawaddy Dolphin
Orcaella brevirostris
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Cetartiodactyla
- Family
- Delphinidae
- Genus
- Orcaella
- Species
- Orcaella brevirostris
The Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) has a rounded, bulging forehead with no beak, a small rounded dorsal fin and a pale grey to bluish body. Its mobile neck and flexible lips give it a distinctive, almost beluga-like face.
This species lives in shallow, often murky coastal waters, estuaries and river mouths, where it feeds on fish, crustaceans and cephalopods. It sometimes spits jets of water while feeding and is usually seen in small groups.
In the Philippines it is known from small, isolated populations, most notably in Malampaya Sound in northern Palawan and in the Guimaras Strait area. These populations are critically endangered, mainly due to bycatch, so any sighting should be observed from a respectful distance.