[6], Studies to estimate the population are difficult to analyze due to the difference in the methodology used. [30] In a previous study conducted at the center of the Amazon River, a dolphin was observed that moved only a few dozen kilometers from the dry season and wet season. When the river is full the mother would give birth. The pectoral fins are large and paddle-shaped. It is very curious and has a remarkable lack of fear of foreign objects. Legend also states that if a person makes eye contact with an Amazon river dolphin, he or she will have lifelong nightmares. Animalia Amazon River Dolphin In human care, unfortunately, these dolphins do not live long, due to their difficulty adapting to captivity. [25] The abundance of distinct fish species lures the Amazon River dolphin into the várzea areas of high water occurrences during the seasonal flooding. The lifespan of the amazon pink dolphin is known! There is one albino on record, kept in an aquarium in Germany. What is the lifespan of a Amazon River Dolphin (Pink Dolphin)? They are considered the most intelligent of the river dolphins. The species Inia geoffrensis was described by Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville in 1817. The lifespan in captivity ranges from 10 to 30 years. [51] In the area, tales relate it is bad luck to kill a dolphin. [31], The Amazon river dolphin has historically been kept in dolphinariums. Most births occur during the summer time between July – September. [19], Life expectancy of the Amazon river dolphin in the wild is unknown, but in captivity, the longevity of healthy individuals has been recorded at between 10 and 30 years. The use of photoidentification to study the Amazon river dolphin, Inia geoffrensis, in the Colombian Amazon. Survival Adaptations: The Amazon River Dolphin has several survival adaptations, some of these include:-A long pointed beak, which allows it to easily catch prey and fit it's beak into tight spaces-A low triangular dorsal fin which make the dolphin more agile in a river ecosystem-A flexible neck, which helps to … The average gestation period (the period from conception to birth) for amazon river dolphins is about 9 months. [16], Inia geoffrensis humboldtiana[6] are located in the Orinoco River basin, including the Apure and Meta rivers. [6] Another source of concern is the difficulty in keeping these animals alive in captivity, due to intra-species aggression and low longevity. Atlantic Spotted Dolphin 41. Their numbers have been diminshed due to pollution, habitat degradation and damage to their natural environment. 1 Appearance 2 Behavior 2.1 Diet 2.2 Lifespan 3 Gallery 4 Facts This dolpin has a long thin beak for snatching up fish. The boutu, boot, or bufeo is known for its pink color. [22] In their freshwater habitat they are apex predators and gatherings depend more on food sources and habitat availability than in oceanic dolphins where protection from larger predators is necessary. [17], The texture of the body is robust and strong but flexible. They have a body length between 2 and 2.6 m (6.5 - 8.5 ft) and they weigh between 100 and 160 kgs (220 - 350 lbs). [34][45] The use of the Amazon river dolphin carcass as bait for the piracatinga dates back to 2000. Density was estimated at 0.08- 0.33 animals per square kilometer in the main channels, and 0.49 to 0.93 animals per square kilometer in the branches. Captive breeding is not considered a conservation option for this species.[50]. This dolphin shapeshifter is called an encantado. [8], Males and females appear to have selective habitat preferences, with the males returning to the main river channels when water levels are still high, while the females and their offspring remain in the flooded areas as long as possible; probably because it decreases the risk of aggression by males toward the young and predation by other species. However, increased human intervention on their habitat is expected to, in the future, be the most likely cause of the decline of its range and population. When they surface, the tips of the snout, melon and dorsal fins appear simultaneously, the tail rarely showing before diving. The myth has been suggested to have arisen partly because dolphin genitalia bear a resemblance to those of humans. They consume about 5.5% of their body weight per day. Generally solitary creatures, they can be seen in pairs during mating season. Experts believe almost 3,000 dolphins are killed each year. A series of recommendations were issued to ensure proper follow-up to the species, among which is the implementation and publication of studies on the structure of populations, making a record of the distribution of the species, information about potential threats as the magnitude of fishing operations and location of pipelines. They communicate in a variety of ways, all nonverbal. Gestation is estimated to be around eleven months and captive births take 4 to 5 hours. 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. While they are mostly pink, Amazon river dolphins have various colored skins, which can be light gray, pink, or brown. Myths say that whoever kills the amazon dolphin will have bad luck, but it's worse for whoever eats it. Adult males reach a maximum length and weight of 2.55 metres (8.4 ft) (average 2.32 metres (7.6 ft)) and 185 kilograms (408 lb) (average 154 kilograms (340 lb)), while females reach a length and weight of 2.15 metres (7.1 ft) (mean 2 metres (6.6 ft)) and 150 kilograms (330 lb) (average 100 kilograms (220 lb)). For each click produced a multitude of echoes are likely to return to the echolocating animal almost on top of each other which makes object discrimination difficult. It belongs to the family Iniidae (a family of toothed whales). The prey size is between 5 and 80 centimetres (2.0 and 31.5 in), with an average of 20 centimetres (7.9 in). The species is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Fauna and Flora (CITES), and Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals,[47] because it has an unfavorable conservation status or would benefit significantly from international co-operation organized by tailored agreements. There is significant segregation during the rainy season, with males occupying the river channels, while females and their offspring are located in flooded areas. Amazon pink dolphins are considered the most intelligent dolphins with a brain capacity that is 40% larger than a human’s. The maximum range of motion was 220 kilometres (140 mi), with an average of 60.8 kilometres (37.8 mi). As a result of the studies conducted, it was found that the density is higher in the riverbanks, 3.7 per km, decreasing towards the center of the river. However, in the dry season, there is no such separation. Amazon River Dolphins (Pink Dolphins) can live for 12 to 18 years. Eventually, thousands of square miles of rainforest are flooded, creating a vast, tree-canopied sea. They are derived from Sotalia guianensis, are most likely harvested along the coast and the Amazon River delta, and then are traded up the Amazon River. The diet becomes more selective during the dry season when prey density is greater. Despite small eyes, the species seems to have good eyesight in and out of the water. The IUCN recognizes three subspecies:[9]I. g. geoffrensis (Amazon river dolphin), I. g. boliviensis (Bolivian river dolphin), and I. g. humboldtiana (Orinoco river dolphin);[6] while the Committee on Taxonomy of the Society for Marine Mammalogy only recognizes the first two of these. That’s why they are also callee Amazon River dolphins. [20][better source needed] An individual named Baby at the Duisburg Zoo, Germany, lived at least 46 years, spending 45 years, 9 months at the zoo. Like other toothed whales, they have a melon, an organ that is used for bio sonar. The pink dolphins live in Amazonia. This may be why the Amazon river dolphin produces less powerful clicks compared to other similar sized toothed whales. The Amazon river dolphin faces many human threats that jeopardize its survival. It has a melon on the head, the shape of which can be modified by muscular control when used for biosonar. Males often have a significant degree of damage in the dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins, as well as the blowhole, due to bites and abrasions. 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. 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