Amazon dolphin facts

Amazon river dolphins boto. Every spring when the rains fall in South America, the Amazon River and its tributaries begin to spill their banks. Eventually, thousands of square miles of rainforest are flooded, amazon dolphin facts, creating a vast, tree-canopied sea. Into this seasonal sea, which remains for half the year, swims the Amazon river dolphinor boto.

Get ready to explore the vibrant world of these underwater divas with some amazing facts about the pink river dolphin. Hold onto your swim caps, we're about to dive into the world of the Amazon river dolphin, aka the pink river dolphin Inia geoffrensis - the most fabulous and flamboyant member of the dolphin family. But, why are they pink in the first place? How fast can they swim? The exact reason is still not fully understood, but it is believed to be due to a combination of genetics, diet, and environmental factors. One reason for the pink colouration is a result of their diet, which is high in carotenoids — an organic pigment found in the fish and crustaceans they eat.

Amazon dolphin facts

Welcome to the new A to Z Eco-Explorer, a series where we explore one environmental subject corresponding to each letter of the alphabet. Read on to learn some amazing facts about this amazing species. The Amazon pink river dolphin is known for its distinct shade of bubblegum pink. But can you believe that it is not born with this rosy appearance? At first, the dolphin has a greyish tone that only begins to turn pink as the animal ages. Its coloration can range from grey with some light pink speckles to a full flamingo-like pink. Male dolphins are also known to be pinkier than females. Their brighter tone is caused by markings and scars from fighting, scratching, and playing rough games underwater. The pinkier the male dolphins, the more attention they get from the females, especially during mating season. Just like humans, these dolphins also flush a rosier look when they get shy or excited. Yet another remarkable aspect of the Amazon pink river dolphin is its adaptation to freshwater environments.

It is the only species of river dolphin kept in captivity, mainly in Venezuela and Europe. They have one of the widest ranging diets among toothed whales, and feed on up to 53 different species of fish, such as croakerscatfishtetras amazon dolphin facts piranhas.

The Amazon River itself is teeming with rich biodiversity: in the dark waters swim piranhas, crocodiles, manatees, and one of our favorites, the Amazon river dolphin. Known to locals as the Boto , or more frequently referred to as the Pink River Dolphin on account of its distinctive coloring, these fascinating creatures are steeped in myth and legend and have evolved to be highly specialized to their environment. Learn more about them before you head to the Amazon with these 15 interesting facts about Pink River Dolphins below. Despite their name, there are actually two other species of river dolphin the Bolivian and Araguaian and the oceanic Gray Dolphin known to locals as the Tucuxi that also call the Amazon river home. However the pink river dolphins are undoubtedly the most recognizable.

The local people know Amazon dolphins by many names, including Amazon river dolphin , pink river dolphin, boto, and bufeo, to name a few. These marine mammals get their name from their unique pinkish color, which is more prominent in males. As river dolphins, they live only in fresh water bodies, particularly rivers and tributaries. They are the largest river dolphin species in the world. Read on to learn about the Amazon dolphin. This species weighs up to lbs. These large marine mammals are light pink in color, and some individuals have gray mottling. Male Amazon dolphins have a more distinct pink color than females.

Amazon dolphin facts

Quite the charmers, male botos sometimes try and win over females by pulling some particularly alluring techniques out of the bag. This may sound comical, but at least two other species are known to perform similar rituals to impress potential mates — chimps, and humans! Botos look very different to marine dolphins. Born gray, adult Amazon River dolphins turn pink or pinkish-grey as they mature, with males being both bigger and pinker than females. With low, ridge-like dorsal fins, long, skinny snouts, plump bodies, chubby cheeks and round, bulbous foreheads, botos have developed a unique look of their own. Even with their generously-sized heads though, botos have fairly small eyes. This may lead you to think that river dolphins struggle to see, but in fact, their eyesight is actually pretty good.

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Trujillo; H. The Amazon pink river dolphin is known for its distinct shade of bubblegum pink. The body color varies with age. Captive breeding is not considered a conservation option for this species. Last year, over pink river dolphins and Tucuxi river dolphins another dolphin species died in Lake Tefe in Brazil due to rising temperatures and low rainfall in the Amazon. Tropical River Fisheries Valuation:Background papers to a global synthesis. Every spring when the rains fall in South America, the Amazon River and its tributaries begin to spill their banks. A plausible explanation of the results is that object-carrying is aimed at females and is stimulated by the number of females in the group, while aggression is aimed at other adult males and is stimulated by object-carrying in the group. Paradoxically, the good news is that despite living in small groups, Amazon pink river dolphins are incredibly curious and outgoing animals towards humans. They also consume other animals such as river turtles , aquatic frogs, and freshwater crabs. The biggest threats are deforestation and other human activities that contribute to disrupt and alter their environment. In captivity, courtship and mating foreplay have been documented. Common minke whale B. In addition, a study identifies a third species in the Araguaia-Tocantins basin, [18] but this designation is not recognized by any international organization and the Committee on Taxonomy of the Society for Marine Mammalogy suggests this analysis is not persuasive. The Amazon river is also threatened by the dumping of mercury into its waters from industrial mining, along with other harsh chemicals.

In the dense and diverse aquatic world of the Amazon, there swims a creature of remarkable intrigue and charm — the Amazon River dolphin, also known as the pink river dolphin or boto.

I 3 : — Everything you need to know about this charismatic amphibian. A plausible explanation of the results is that object-carrying is aimed at females and is stimulated by the number of females in the group, while aggression is aimed at other adult males and is stimulated by object-carrying in the group. But can you believe that it is not born with this rosy appearance? Dr Michelle Fournet and Dr Ellen Garland explain the incredible secret social world of whale vocalisation. Get our e-Newsletter. I'd like a [ In other projects. Archived from the original PDF on 26 September The old historical center is a living testimony to a bygone age when the city was […]. Instead, they have a short dorsal fin and long flexible flippers , perfect for gliding through the shallow waters of the Amazon. Amazon Rainforest: What to See and Do. Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Amazon river dolphins boto The pink river dolphins of the Amazon use sonar to locate their prey hiding in the river. Read on to learn some amazing facts about this amazing species.