Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris)

The Irrawaddy dolphin is a euryhaline species, meaning it can to adapt to a wide range of salinities, sweet as well as salt water. It is found in shallow coastal waters of the tropical Indo-Pacific and in large river systems such as Brahmaputra, Ganges, Mekong, Mahakam and Irrawaddy. Only a few years ago, in 2005, a second species in its genus was recognised, The Australian Snubfin dolphin which is found at the coastlines of northern Australia. The Irrawaddy dolphin’s appearance is similar to the Beluga, but it is most closely related to the Orca.