Irrawaddy dolphin vs River Tern

Orcaella brevirostris compared with Sterna aurantia

Key Differences

• Irrawaddy dolphin is Endangered while River Tern is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Irrawaddy dolphin	River Tern
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)	Charadriiformes (Charadriiformes)
Family	Delphinidae (Oceanic Dolphins)	Laridae
Genus	Orcaella	Sterna
Species	Orcaella brevirostris	Sterna aurantia

Evolutionary Relationship

Irrawaddy dolphin and River Tern share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Irrawaddy dolphin

EN — Endangered

River Tern

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Irrawaddy dolphin	River Tern
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Irrawaddy dolphin

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

River Tern

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Found in Norway. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.