river dolphin

noun

: any of various small, toothed whales (as of the families Platanistidae and Iniidae) that chiefly inhabit rivers of South America and Asia and have a rounded forehead and a snout elongated into a long beak

Examples of river dolphin in a Sentence

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In addition to drawing storm chasers and meteorologists, the wetlands surrounding the Catatumbo Lightning area are home to creatures like howler monkeys, river dolphins, anacondas, and capybara, which entice photographers, fishers, and wildlife tourists. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2026 Join an expedition cruise on the Delfin I, allowing for a small yacht exploration of the Pacaya Samira Reserve in the northwest east of Peru, to spot pink and grey river dolphins, giant otters, sloth, macaws and more. Kissa Castaneda, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026 All around the skiff, pink river dolphins pop up for air, their taut blush bodies arcing briefly before vanishing with barely a splash. Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Mar. 2026 Within a week, more than 150 endangered river dolphins — including both pink dolphins and tucuxis — were found dead in Lake Tefé. Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for river dolphin

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of river dolphin was in 1870

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Cite this Entry

“River dolphin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/river%20dolphin. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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