Irrawaddy dolphin vs Scarlet Macaw

Orcaella brevirostris compared with Ara macao

Key Differences

• Irrawaddy dolphin is Endangered while Scarlet Macaw is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Irrawaddy dolphin	Scarlet Macaw
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)	Psittaciformes (Parrots)
Family	Delphinidae (Oceanic Dolphins)	Psittacidae (True Parrots)
Genus	Orcaella	Ara (Macaws)
Species	Orcaella brevirostris	Ara macao

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Irrawaddy dolphin

EN — Endangered

Scarlet Macaw

LC — Least Concern

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Irrawaddy dolphin	Scarlet Macaw
Diet	—	Herbivore
Average Lifespan	—	50 years
Average Length	—	85 cm
Average Weight	—	1.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Irrawaddy dolphin

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Scarlet Macaw

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, forests, and vegetated habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela). Population trends indicate a declining trajectory in parts of its range.

Scarlet Macaw

One of the most brilliantly colored birds in the Americas, scarlet macaws display vivid red, yellow, and blue plumage with wingspans reaching 1 meter. Found in humid lowland forests from Mexico to Bolivia, they are highly intelligent, long-lived — up to 75 years — and form lifelong pair bonds. They travel long distances to clay licks where they consume mineral-rich soil to detoxify seeds. Listed as Least Concern but locally threatened by habitat loss and the pet trade.