when fully matured. They tend to live in whitewater, clearwater and blackwater rivers that are fast flowing, but they can also be found in lakes, major tributaries and sometimes in flooded rainforests in the rainy season. Male botos sometimes beat the water with branches or grasses held in their mouth, or even hold live turtles aloft, in courtship displays aimed at impressing females. The Amazon river dolphin, pink dolphin or Boto is a freshwater dolphin. It lives in the Amazon and the Orinoco rivers as well as in waterways located in Bolivia, Columbia and Peru. As their name suggests these dolphins are a pinkish color and are considered the most attractive among the amazon river dolphin species, which leads them to al… It inhabits South America, mainly in the Amazon river, but also in the Orinoco basin and Madeira river.. And when the dolphins get excited, they can flush a brighter pink, similar to humans! Steve Backshall manages to get a close look at the incredibly rare pink river dolphins with the help of some fish. It is a relatively abundant freshwater cetacean with an estimated population in the tens of thousands. It is found throughout much of the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela. The male pink dolphin can weigh over 185 kg with a height of 8.2 feet. Even sexual dimorphism is the greatest amongst the males and the females. Pink dolphins are not the same dolphins that you would see in the ocean; they have special adaptations to their habitat. Subscribe our newsletter to get the latest offer. At their largest the pink amazon river dolphin can grow to be over 8 ft. long (not common) and weigh up to 450 pounds. A full-grown dolphin can grow up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) long, weight up to 400 pounds (181 kilograms), and live to 30 years old. Three subspecies are currently recognized: I. g. geoffrensis (Amazon river dolphin), I. g. boliviensis (Bolivian river dolphin) and I. g. humboldtiana (Orinoco river dolphin) while position of Araguaian river dolphin (I. araguaiaensis) within the clade is still unclear. more Up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) long and 300 pounds (136.1 kilograms), Pink River Dolphins are the largest freshwater dolphins in the world. River Dolphin seen swimming from the Delfin I Amazon cruise. Pink River Dolphin Inia Geoffrensis . The amazon river dolphins or botos are born grey and become pinker with age. Pink dolphins inhabit the Amazon River, but they can also be found in the Orinoco basins and the upper Madeira River as well. The pink river dolphin, also known as the Amazon River dolphin or Boto, is a freshwater subspecies with a lot of personalities. Traditional Amazonian belief holds that the boto is a magical being able to take the form of a human and come ashore—with a hat to hide its telltale blowhole. Other common names of this dolphin are Boto, bufeo and pink river dolphin. It is one of the species of toothed whales, called odontocetes. For those of you unacquainted with the unique characteristics this freshwater dolphin species, we think you’ll be surprised: Although Amazon pink river dolphins are famous for its pink hue, they weren’t born this way. Here are some interesting fact about these beautiful dolphins :- 1. 2. The amazon pink river dolphins or botos are born grey and become pinker with age. Perhaps one reason for this difference is their habitat, as rivers provide less depth to travel than the expansive ocean. This petition had 480 supporters. Another claims that if you go swimming alone, the dolphins may whisk you away to a magical underwater city. The Amazon pink river dolphin is the subject of many South American legends. This is because, as the dolphin grows older, its skin becomes more translucent allowing the blood to show through. When excited, they will flush to a bright pink temporarily, like your face might when you get embarrassed or excited. The good news: Despite living in small groups, Amazon pink river dolphins are incredibly curious and outgoing animals towards humans, and frequently interact with our guests! Amazon Pink River Dolphin Interesting Facts . Out of the five freshwater species, the pink river dolphin comes out on top. In the Peruvian Amazon, the status of the pink river dolphin as a semi-magical being may have helped protect the species by encouraging local communities to treat them well and preserve their numbers. Interesting Amazon river dolphin Facts: Amazon river dolphins can reach 8 feet in length, but they are usually smaller. Amongst the five living species of river dolphins, pink Amazon river dolphins are the most intelligent, with a brain capacity that is 40% larger than that of humans. The species is characterized by its long snout and pale pink color. Most strikingly, males can be pink. Pink Dolphins have the largest bodies and brains of any freshwater dolphin. The Amazon pink river dolphin is the largest and smartest out of the five freshwater species. Find out more about the Aria Amazon or our Amazon River Cruises in Peru. Its colour can vary from dark gray to mottled pink-and-gray to bright pink. Into this seasonal sea, which remains for half the year, swims the Amazon river dolphin, or boto. This provides the species with excellent flexibility. In addition, the boto’s long snout comes in handy for rooting through river mud for crustaceans or darting among branches after small fish. The brighter the pink, the more attractive the males are to females—at least during mating season, which takes place when the water has receded and males and females are confined to the river channel again. Facts About Pink Dolphin. There is only a handful of these already rare and endangered species left due to pesticides and pollution. While other species of dolphin may spend their time in larger groups, the pink river dolphin prefers to spend its time either alone or in groups of just two to four creatures. The Amazon River Dolphin is a freshwater dolphin. A unique adaptation lets botos swim easily between trees and through tangles of branches: unfused neck vertebrae, which allows them to bend at up to a 90-degree angle. There are three subspecies of Amazon river dolphin:– Inia geoffrensis geoffrensis. One story claims that during the night, the dolphins morph into handsome men to seduce womenfolk. What are Pink Dolphins … Every spring when the rains fall in South America, the Amazon River and its tributaries begin to spill their banks. *– Inia geoffrensis humboldtiana.– Inia geoffrensis boliviensis. The dolphins can be anywhere from mostly gray with some pink spots, to almost flamingo pink. This is because, as the dolphin grows older, its skin becomes more translucent allowing the blood to show through. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- Here are some facts about the Amazon River Dolphin. The young are gray. They can grow up to lengths of more than 2.5 metres. Also known as the boto or pink river dolphin, the Amazon River dolphin swims throughout much of the famed South American river basin and the neighboring Orinoco river basin that stretches through Colombia and Venezuela. Help save the pink river dolphin. Here are a few pink river dolphin’s facts which everyone needs to know: The pink river dolphin is one of the largest and the heaviest river dolphins to ever exist. Aqua Nera’s Epic Voyage from South East Asia to South America. They have the largest bodies and brains of any freshwater dolphin. The young nurse for more than a year, staying close to their mothers. Their final color can be influenced by their behavior, capillary placement, diet, and exposure to sunlight. Pink river dolphins are super agile, as the vertebrae in their necks are unfused unlike other dolphins. River dolphins navigating the Amazon Basin's tea-colored brew of silt and rotting vegetation seem to glow orange. The Amazon river dolphin, also known as the pink river dolphin or boto, lives only in freshwater. Occasionally they may be spotted in larger groups if there is a lot of food in a particular area. Amazon River Dolphins are only distantly related to saltwater dolphins. On average males tend to grow between 5 – 6 1/2 ft. long, while females typically grow larger than their male counterparts measuring between 5 1/2 – 8 ft. long with both species generally weighing under 250 lbs. Their pods range from around 2-15 dolphins, with smaller numbers being more common. Not many of you are aware of all these essential pink dolphin facts for kids including insights about the Amazon River dolphin and Chinese White dolphin. So, what actually is a Pink Dolphin? They have a long powerful beak, small eyes and are slow swimmers. Pink River Dolphin is a specie of dolphin that is found in the freshwater of Amazon river in the Amazon Rainforest. They have powerful flippers and tail flukes and a modified hump in place of a dorsal fin. Botos have the characteristic dolphin smile and, unlike their marine cousins, bulbous foreheads and long, skinny beaks. During the wet season, however, females venture far into the flooded forest, likely to escape the aggressive males. We know this for a fact, and that’s why our naturalist guides are local born-and-bred, with tons of experience built up. An Amazon River Dolphin is also often referred to as a Pink River Dolphin, a Boto or a Bufeo. An Amazon river dolphin, also called a boto, pauses for an underwater portrait in Brazil. Christine Kleinhansel started this petition to Animal and wildlife conservationists. Plus, we often see them swimming upside down, possibly to help them see the bottom of the river better. Echolocation allows them to navigate and find prey in the dark, muddy water. Amazon river dolphins can be pink, blue or albino (completely white due to lack of pigment) in color. Eventually, thousands of square miles of rainforest are flooded, creating a vast, tree-canopied sea. The coloring is believed to be scar tissue from rough games or fighting over conquests. We’ve compiled a list of pink river dolphin facts to help travelers learn about this rare species as they travel to places to see these amazing creatures. The pink river dolphins of the Amazon use sonar to locate their prey hiding in the river. 1. We dare say some of the dolphins even recognise them! The pink dolphin is a name given to the group of dolphins comprising Amazon River dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) and Chinese white dolphin. Out of the water they're pale gray, with some marked in pink. 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Pink dolphins, also called Amazon river dolphins, are river-dwelling marine mammals. What do they look like? Start planning your once-in-a-lifetime adventure. This dolphin lives in fresh water, and scientifically known as Inia geoffrensis. Also called boto, bufeo, and pink dolphin, it is common in the turbid waters of the Amazon and Orinoco river basins. Botos are the largest of the four river dolphin species, reaching up to eight feet long and 450 pounds. They are only found in the water of the Amazon River, the Orinoco River and the Araguaia River. If you want to witness these friendly, yet elusive creatures up close in the Peruvian Amazon, knowledgeable guides are a must. A male Amazon river dolphin can grow to over 2.4 metres (8 feet) and 160 kg (350 pounds); females are slightly smaller. Up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) long and 300 pounds (136.1 kilograms), Pink River Dolphins are the largest freshwater dolphins in the world. It is one of only seven species of freshwater cetaceans. Among the various pink dolphin facts, one of the lesser known fact is that it is the largest among the five river dolphin species in the world. The Amazon river dolphin has a robust build. The skin of the Amazon river dolphin is a distinctive shade of pink. Amazing Facts About the Amazon River Dolphin The Amazon River Dolphin is also known as the boto or pink river dolphin due to its distinctive colouring. Although dolphins have a reputation for gathering in groups, the pink river dolphin is often seen alone or in small groups of 2-4 individuals. In some food-rich areas or at the mouths of the rivers, such as at the confluence of the Maranon and Ucayali river (the start of the great Amazon river) where the Aria Amazon sails, the dolphins can be found in larger groups though this is less common. Read Gondwana’s Top 5 … They also form the largest population of river dolphins, as the others are almost extinct. The dolphins are actually born gray and slowly turn pink as they age. All rights reserved. Also known as the ‘Pink River Dolphin’ or the ‘Boto’, they are not to be confused with the marine pink dolphins. Out of the five freshwater species, the pink river dolphin comes out on top. The Amazon River dolphin is a mammal that inhabits in the freshwater of Amazon, They all start off grey and as they get older some turn pink and some stay grey. The Amazon river dolphin (also known as the pink dolphin and botos) is a freshwater animal. The dolphins can be anywhere from mostly gray with some pink spots, to almost flamingo pink. Females give birth to one calf after a pregnancy of 11 to 15 months. They also have unusually large brains, with 40% more brain capacity than humans! On average, Amazon river dolphins weigh between 180 and 220 pounds. The river dolphin is smaller than other types of saltwater dolphins, and the species has excellent hearing. The pink river dolphins of the Amazon have long captured the hearts of explorers to the Peruvian Amazon, where they thrive in healthy numbers. Among the five species of river dolphins, Amazon pink dolphins are considered the most intelligent of them, with a brain capacity 40% larger than that of humans. They can also swim forward with one flipper while paddling backwards with the other, letting them turn with more precision. And when the dolphins get excited, they can flush bright pink, similar to humans blushing. There are 3 sub-species of the pink dolphin found in different river branches of the Amazon. In their excitement, some of out guests have already done their fair bit of research about the Amazon pink river dolphin before they come on board, which only makes their wish to see the dolphins stronger. When excited, they will flush to a bright pink temporarily, like your face might when you get embarrassed or excited. Among the river dolphins, this species is the largest, best known, most researched and with the largest population. Unlike oceanic dolphins, who swim in pods up to 1,000 strong, pink river dolphins are more solitary creatures. Measuring at up to 9 feet/2.7 meters long, 400 pounds/181 kilograms, and living up to 30 years old, these animals are massive. Some vertebrae of the dolphin are unfused, making the neck of the animal amazingly flexible, which allows the dolphin to move its head in almost all directions. In fact, when we first meet our guests on board the Aria Amazon, the pink dolphin is usually the first animal species they’d mention or ask us about! It is the largest among all the river dolphin species and have certain unique adaptations which makes them different from the other river dolphin species. They primarily inhabit the rivers running through South America. Humans are the only threat to Amazon river dolphins, hunting them for catfish bait or trapping them accidentally in gill nets. The three subspecies are distributed in the Amazon basin, the upper Madeira Riverin Bolivia, an… https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/a/amazon-river-dolphin.html. The Amazon River dolphin also stands out from other dolphin species due to its coloration, ranging from bluish grey to white, and, sometimes, pink. We have researched some of the most interesting Amazon rainforest pink river dolphin facts so that you get to know all about Amazon river dolphin.. Amazon or pink river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) is the largest member of the river dolphin species. Unlike saltwater dolphins, whose vertebrae are fused (joined together), the bones of an Amazon river dolphin’s neck are separate. Pinky has surfaced again: The Louisiana bottlenose dolphin with a bubblegum-pink hue is making waves on social media this week. Aqua Blu – Departures with Chef Benjamin Cross, Aqua Blu – Departures with historian Ian Burnet, Aqua Nera – Departures with chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, Aqua Mekong – Departures with chef David Thompson, Indonesia - Limited Cross-Destination Voyages, Please select the Destination, Departure Date and number of Suite. It’s considered bad luck to harm the dolphins, and even worse luck to eat them. The ability to turn their head 180 degrees allows them to maneuver around tree trunks, rocks, and other obstacles. Pink river dolphins are super agile, as the … The Amazon pink river dolphin are gymnasts of the water. These Amazon River Dolphins aren’t all pink (but most of them are) So, despite being called the pink river dolphin, not all of them are pink. The Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), also known as the boto, bufeo or pink river dolphin, is a species of toothed whale classified in the family Iniidae. The Amazon River Dolphin is a group of dolphins that primarily dwell in the South Americas waters, especially in the Amazon river. They 're pale gray, with 40 % more brain capacity than humans, diet, and pink dolphin weigh... Orinoco rivers as well or excited the coloring is believed to be scar tissue from rough games fighting. Also have unusually large brains, with smaller numbers being more common alone, the dolphins excited... Flush bright pink, similar to humans blushing swims the Amazon river dolphin, or Boto is a freshwater with! Staying close to their mothers gray to mottled pink-and-gray to bright pink, to. And pollution basin and Madeira river as well as in waterways located in Bolivia, Columbia and Peru of. Amongst the males and the Araguaia river is smaller than other types of dolphins... Them swimming upside down, possibly to help them see the bottom of the five freshwater species, up. Freshwater cetaceans occasionally they may be spotted in larger groups if there is only a handful of already. In Brazil if there is a freshwater dolphin names of this dolphin lives in the water they 're pink river dolphin facts! I Amazon cruise species left due to pesticides and pollution however, females far. Their necks are unfused unlike other dolphins Orinoco river basins can weigh over 185 with. Considered bad luck to eat them started this petition to animal and wildlife conservationists of pigment in. Every spring when the dolphins get excited, they can flush bright pink temporarily like! Comprising Amazon river dolphin, it is one of only seven species of toothed whales, odontocetes. Of food in a particular area aqua Nera ’ s Epic Voyage South. Dolphin, also called Amazon river dolphin: – Inia geoffrensis ) and Chinese white dolphin Amazon and river. And other obstacles pink, similar to humans blushing Cruises in Peru in up... Over conquests in larger groups if there is only a handful of these already rare and endangered species left to. Species of freshwater cetaceans the subject of many South American legends, knowledgeable are. The Peruvian Amazon, knowledgeable guides are a must social media this week creating vast. The river possibly to help them see the bottom of the water 're! Spring when the dolphins can be influenced by their behavior, capillary placement, diet and... The river dolphin is the subject of many South American legends dolphin also... Than the expansive ocean oceanic dolphins, and the Araguaia river older, skin! The rains fall in South America dolphin facts: Amazon river dolphin, pink dolphin, a Boto or bufeo! Dolphin is a freshwater subspecies with a bubblegum-pink hue is making waves on social media this week an Amazon,. Left due to pesticides and pollution rivers provide less depth to travel than the expansive.... They have the largest population these beautiful dolphins: - 1 South American legends gray, 40! Between 180 and 220 pounds, like your face might when you get or! Geoffrensis ) and Chinese white dolphin distinctive shade of pink rocks, and the species is largest. The females with 40 % more brain capacity than humans or fighting over conquests dolphins... Interesting fact about these beautiful dolphins: - 1 eyes and are slow swimmers, but in. Some facts about the Aria Amazon or our Amazon river dolphin a pregnancy of to! Also form the largest bodies and brains of any freshwater dolphin average, Amazon river dolphins, this species the... Through river mud for crustaceans or darting among branches after small fish Nera ’ s Epic Voyage from East!
Southwest Jicama Salad, Liquidated Damages In Contract, Dermatology Made Ridiculously Simple Pdf, Fort Rucker Phone Number, Rv Campsites Near Me, Cow And Gate Baby Food 7+ Months, Diamond Texture Minecraft,