Chinese river dolphin vs Irrawaddy dolphin

Lipotes vexillifer compared with Orcaella brevirostris

Key Differences

• Chinese river dolphin is Critically Endangered while Irrawaddy dolphin is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Chinese river dolphin	Irrawaddy dolphin
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order same	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)
Family	Lipotidae	Delphinidae (Oceanic Dolphins)
Genus	Lipotes	Orcaella
Species	Lipotes vexillifer	Orcaella brevirostris

Evolutionary Relationship

Chinese river dolphin and Irrawaddy dolphin share a common ancestor at the Order level: Cetacea. (Whales & Dolphins)

Conservation Status

Chinese river dolphin

CR — Critically Endangered

Irrawaddy dolphin

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Chinese river dolphin	Irrawaddy dolphin
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Chinese river dolphin

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Irrawaddy dolphin

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Chinese river dolphin

The Chinese River Dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer) is a species in the genus Lipotes. It is currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.