Question 1

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 2

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 3

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 4

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 5

True or false: Irrawaddy dolphins can spit water up to 1.5 meters like some other river dolphins.

Accepted Answer

True. They are known to spit water while feeding or playing, a rare trait shared only with a few dolphin species.

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 over 12 minutes while diving.

Accepted Answer

True. They are adapted for deep dives, often staying submerged for up to 12 minutes in murky waters.

Question 8

True or false: These dolphins use echolocation that works perfectly in muddy river water.

Accepted Answer

False. Muddy water hampers their echolocation, so they rely more on touch and vision to navigate.

Irrawaddy Dolphin Trivia Questions