PHYLUM: Chordata
CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Cetacea
FAMILY: Iniidae
GENUS: Inia
SPECIES: geoffrensis
TOOTHED or TOOTHLESS (BALEEN): Toothed
FRESHWATER, SALTERWATER or BRACKISH: Freshwater
HABITAT: Orinoco River Basin, Amazon River Basin, and Madeira River system in South America
LENGTH (maximum): 7-8 Ft
WEIGHT (maximum): 260-400 lbs
RELATIVE SPECIES: Tucuxi
OTHER NAMES: Boto, Pink Dolphin
NEIGHBORING SPECIES: Tucuxi
PREDATORS: Humans (used as fish bait and source of food for humans)
THREATS: Caught in nets, mutilated or poisoned by fishermen. Habitat degradation and pollution.
DIET: 50 different species of fish, mollusks, crustaceans and small turtles.
MANNER OF FEEDING: Usually feed alone or in small groups. Work as a group to herd schools of fish. Occasionally they forage with Tucuxi and otters. They also take advantage of fishermen’s efforts to herd and capture fish.
BEHAVIOR: Travel alone or in small groups. Very curious and will follow swimmers and boaters. Follow boats in an effort to catch discarded fish. Sneak along the surface or arching and rolling their backs in order to breathe. Slow swimmers.
REPRODUCTION: Gestation is 10-11 months. Calving occurs at times when the rivers are high. Mating occurs all year round.
LIFE SPAN: 21-36 Years
COOL/GROSS/WEIRD:
- Most abundant of river dolphins.
- Very long beak and pinkish coloring.
- Pink skin is caused by blood flow to the capillaries, depending on age, activity and water clarity.
- Amazon river dolphin used to be found in zoos and aquariums, however they were unable to survive.
SOURCES:
- Knopf, Alfred A. Guide to Marine Mammals of the World.Random House. 2002
- http://www.cms.int/reports/small_cetaceans/data/I_geoffrensis/I_geoffrensis.htm
-TSF-
