Animals >>
River Dolphin
River Dolphin Facts
| Kingdom: Five groups that classify all living things | Animalia |
| Phylum: A group of animals within the animal kingdom | Chordata |
| Class: A group of animals within a pylum | Mammalia |
| Order: A group of animals within a class | Cetacea |
| Family: A group of animals within an order | Platanistoidea |
| Genus: A group of animals within a family | Platanistidae |
| Scientific Name: The name of the animal in science | Platanistoidea |
| Type: The animal group that the species belongs to | Mammal |
| Diet: What kind of foods the animal eats | Carnivore |
| Size: How long (L) or tall (H) the animal is | 2-2.5m (72-98in) |
| Weight: The measurement of how heavy the animal is | 100-200kg (220-440lbs) |
| Top Speed: The fastest recorded speed of the animal | 30km/h (18mph) |
| Lifespan: How long the animal lives for | 12-18 years |
| Lifestyle: Whether the animal is solitary or sociable | School |
| Conservation Status: The likelihood of the animal becoming extinct | Endangered |
| Colour: The colour of the animal's coat or markings | Grey, Pink |
| Skin Type: The protective layer of the animal | Smooth |
| Favourite Food: The preferred food of this animal | Fish |
| Habitat: The specific area where the animal lives | Large tropical rivers and estuaries |
| Average Litter Size: The average number of babies born at once | 1 |
| Main Prey: The food that the animal gains energy from | Fish, Prawns, Frogs |
| Predators: Other animals that hunt and eat the animal | Human |
| Special Features: Characteristics unique to this animal | Long, narrow beak and flexible neck |
River Dolphin Location
River Dolphin
There are only four species of river dolphin still existing in river, lakes and estuaries in certain parts of the tropical Southern Hemisphere. River dolphins are also known as freshwater dolphins with one species however inhabiting saltwater estuaries known as the La Plata dolphin.The Amazon river dolphin (Boto or Pink river dolphin) is found in the Amazon river and the joining rivers, with the Amazon river dolphin being the largest species of freshwater dolphin. The Amazon river dolphin feeds on crabs, fish and catfish and is rarely hunted by animals other than humans.
The Ganges river dolphin (Indus River Dolphin) is found in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. The Ganges river dolphin is primarily found in the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers and their joining rivers in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. The Ganges river dolphin has long teeth that can be seen even when the dolphins mouth is closed.
The Chinese river dolphin (Baiji) was once found only in the Yangtze River in China but sadly said to have become extinct in 2006.
Some river dolphins are thought to be blind, but other river dolphins still possess incredibly poor eye sight and many are therefore killed when accidentally coming into content with fishing boats and nets. Like other species of dolphin, the river dolphins hunt and communicate using echolocation, a process which involves the detection of low frequency waves that are emitted by all the living things.
River dolphins are mainly found in darker, slow-moving waters but are known to venture into grasslands and underwater forests during the flood seasons. It is now, when the water is at the highest level that the baby river dolphins are born underwater.
River dolphins have a long, narrow beak and flexible neck which helps them to catch prey quickly and enables the river dolphins to turn quickly and more easily in the water. River dolphins are normally found on their own or in pairs but large groups of river dolphins will often come together to feed.
Related Animals
Are you Safe?
Are you Safe? is an online safety campaign by A-Z-Animals.com. If something has upset you, the Are you Safe? campaign can help you to speak to someone who can help you.
Are you Safe?River Dolphin Comments
Post Comment
Related Blogs
Article Tools
Update your River Dolphin phobia filter.
View printer friendly version of River Dolphin article.
Learn how you can use or cite the River Dolphin article in your website content, school work and other projects.
First Published: 10th December 2008, Last Updated: 10th September 2018
1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 10 Dec 2008]
2. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2011]
3. David W. Macdonald, Oxford University Press (2010) The Encyclopedia Of Mammals [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2010]
4. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 10 Dec 2008]
5. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2009]
6. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 10 Dec 2008]
"I love the rivir dolphin l thank we should help save them SAVE THEM!!!!!!!!"
"it tells me so much!!!!!!!"
"There so cute there pink"
"cool (; cool facts"
"Thx it helped me with meh project"
Show More Comments