Question 1

True or false: Adult Irrawaddy dolphins have a distinct, bulging forehead and no beak.

Accepted Answer

True. Their rounded head lacks a long snout, giving them a unique, almost whale-like appearance.

Question 2

True or false: Irrawaddy dolphins are only found in the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar.

Accepted Answer

False. They also inhabit coastal waters and rivers in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Question 3

True or false: Irrawaddy dolphins are actually a subspecies of the bottlenose dolphin.

Accepted Answer

False. They belong to the genus Orcaella, distinct from bottlenose dolphins, and are more closely related to killer whales.

Question 4

True or false: Irrawaddy dolphins are known to help fishermen by driving fish into their nets.

Accepted Answer

True. In Myanmar, they cooperatively herd fish toward boats, a rare mutualistic behavior with humans.

Question 5

True or false: Irrawaddy dolphins are known to spit water from their mouths, a behavior shared with some other dolphin species.

Accepted Answer

True. They spit water while feeding or playing, a rare trait shared with a few dolphin species, likely used for communication or herding prey.

Question 6

True or false: Irrawaddy dolphins are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN.

Accepted Answer

False. They are classified as Endangered, not Critically Endangered, though some subpopulations face severe threats.

Question 7

True or false: Irrawaddy dolphins can hold their breath for up to 12 minutes while diving.

Accepted Answer

True. According to WWF, Irrawaddy dolphins can stay underwater for up to 12 minutes and dive to depths of 90 meters.

Question 8

True or false: Irrawaddy dolphins can survive in both freshwater and saltwater environments.

Accepted Answer

True. This species inhabits rivers, estuaries, and coastal seas, adapting to varying salinity.

Irrawaddy Dolphin Trivia Questions