Animal Fun Facts: Meet the Irrawaddy Dolphin
By Gianna Ursone, Staff Writer
Hello again, Cornerstone Warriors! This week’s Animal Fun Fact’s name is kind of a tongue twister, but I do hope you find it just as interesting! Meet the Irrawaddy dolphin, scientifically known as the Orcaella brevirostris. These dolphins are native to coastal areas, estuaries, and rivers of the Bay Bengal and Southeast Asia. Now, let’s dive into some fun facts about these short-faced dolphins!
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These dolphins sadly are endangered, but that doesn’t stop them from smiling! Irrawaddy dolphins have a permanent, gentle smile on their faces and are considered one of the cutest creatures in the ocean.
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Irrawaddy dolphins are very cooperative with Myanmar fishermen and have been known to herd fish into their nets. As a reward, they get leftover fish from the fishermen.
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Despite being called dolphins, these marine animals aren’t actually true “river” dolphins. If anything, they’re more closely related to the killer whale than to any other Asian river dolphin.
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Much like killer whales, Irrawaddy dolphins do something called “spy-hopping,” which is where they vertically rise from the water to check their surroundings.
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These animals are known to squirt small bursts of water (About 1.5 meters in length) out of their mouths and at their prey to stun them or confuse them when they hunt.
Those are all the fun facts left for this animal! Hopefully, you have learned something new and fun about these little creatures.
Illustration by Gianna Ursone
