They are slightly smaller than sea dolphins with Amazon river dolphins averaging about 6. There is an Amazonian legend that the pink river dolphins stalk the rainforest at night disguised as handsome, white-hat wearing men the hat is used to hide their blowhole in order to seduce and impregnate innocent local women. They come in all shades of pink, from a dull gray-pink, to rosy colored pink, to a bright pink like that of the flamingo.
There are various theories for this. Some believe age is a factor, with younger dolphins being gray and they get pinker with age, with adult males usually the pinkest. Another theory is the coloration is a way to camouflage themselves against the reddish mud that occurs in some stretches of the river to help avoid being noticed by predators.
There are several anatomical differences between the Amazon River dolphin and other types of dolphins. For one, Amazon River dolphins are able to turn their necks from side to side while most species of dolphin cannot. This trait coupled with their ability to paddle forward with one flipper, while paddling backward with the other helps them maneuver when the river floods. These dolphins will actually swim up over the flooded land and their flexibility helps them to navigate around trees.
Additional characteristics that set these dolphins apart from other species are molar-like teeth that allow them to chew their prey and bristle-like hairs at the ends of their snouts that help them search for food on the muddy river bottoms. Pink river dolphins are often assumed to be blind because their eyes are small and the visibility in the murky waters of the Amazon is so poor, but in fact they have pretty good eyesight and are known to be very inquisitive, even looking into your eyes.
Amazon River dolphins feast on over 50 types of fish, as well as shrimps, crabs and even small turtles, which they find at the bottom of the river. They swim towards the top, often looking down, and use echolocation to help them hunt.
Part of this status is because while dolphins have a reputation for gathering in groups, the pink river dolphin is often seen alone or in small groups of individuals, usually mother and young. One challenge in counting them is that the riverine waters are often murky with silt.
Another is that they do not go out of their way to make themselves seen, often putting only the tips of their heads out of the water. They spend a lot of time underwater, and their shy and elusive behavior adds to their mythical quality. Paradoxically, the good news is that despite living in small groups, Amazon pink river dolphins are incredibly curious and outgoing animals towards humans.
They can be frequently spotted playing in the river by our guests during our skiff excursions. Pink river dolphins are super agile, as the vertebrae in their necks are unfused, unlike other dolphins.
The ability to turn their heads to an angle of 90 degrees allows them to maneuver around tree trunks, rocks, and other obstacles. They can also swim forward with one flipper while paddling backward with the other, letting them turn with more precision. They can reach up to ten feet long and two hundred pounds. They are unique among dolphins for having molar-like teeth and can chew their prey.
They are quite solitary animals, and are found in the main rivers of the Amazon and Orinoco river systems of tropical South America. Pink River Dolphins inhabit muddy stagnant water, and during flooding will move onto the flooded forests leaving them at risk of stranding. They are however extremely flexible so they can weave through the obstacles of trees as they search for their prey.
They are a completely freshwater species, never venturing into salt water. Because Amazon River dolphins do not have any known natural predators — other than humans — they do not need to live in large protective groups called pods.
Amazon river dolphins boto The pink river dolphins of the Amazon use sonar to locate their prey hiding in the river. Common Name: Amazon river dolphins. Scientific Name: Inia geoffrensis. Diet: Carnivore. Size: Up to 8 feet long. Weight: Up to pounds. Current Population Trend: Unknown. Tracking Dolphins Amazon dolphins Inia geoffrensis bear little resemblance to our beloved Flipper.
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