Irrawaddy Dolphins are found in sporadic sub-populations near sea coasts and in estuaries and rivers in parts of the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia. Irrawaddy Dolphins all in the kingdom of animalia. They are classified as mammalian. Irrawaddy Dolphins belong to the family of Delphinidae. Their genus and species are Orcaella and O. brevirostris respectively.
Irrawaddy Dolphins – Appearance
Irrawaddy dolphins look alike to the Beluga, but it is very much related to the Orca. Irrawaddy dolphins have a large melon and a blunt, rounded head. Their beak is unclear and blurry. The dorsal fin, located about two-thirds posterior along the back, is short, blunt and triangular. Their flippers are lengthy and wide. They have light color all over them, but their underside is whiter than the rest of the body. A grown-up Irrawaddy dolphin weighs more than 130 kg and its length is around 8 ft at full when it is fully grown.
Irrawaddy Dolphins – Feeding
Irrawaddy dolphins’ major food source is considered to be cyprinnid fish, Cirrihinus siamensis
and Paralaubuca typus. Besides Irrawaddy dolphins’ feed is fish, fish eggs, cephalopods and crustaceans.
Irrawaddy Dolphins – Reproduction
There is not much known about the reproduction behavior and process of Irrawaddy dolphins. There is a probable guess is that they reach sexual maturity at the age of 4 to 6 years. The mating season is also assumed to be taking place in April or June in the Semayang Lake/Mahakam River area of Kalimantan. The newly born calves weigh 12.3 kg and the length is about 96 cm.
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