The pink Amazon river dolphin

The pink dolphin, also known as 'boto', is an intelligent and fascinating mammal that inhabits the rivers of the Amazon, especially in the Loreto region. Adapted to the river environment, it stands out for its peculiar color, its varied diet and presence in Amazonian mythology.

Where does the Peruvian pink dolphin live?

The pink dolphin is one of nature's most iconic and enigmatic creatures. This aquatic mammal, also called 'Boto' or 'Bufeo', lives in the rivers of the Amazon and is one of the largest freshwater cetaceans.

They are known for his intelligence. Their brains are larger than humans, and their behavior includes social interactions and communication skills. The scientific name of this mammal is Inia geoffrensis and it is an animal highly adapted to its environment, since it can navigate among the immense vegetation of the Amazonian rivers.

This beautiful, friendly and unique animal can be observed among the river Marañón and Yanayacu (Loreto region), in the middle of the immensity of the Amazon. As for its food menu, it includes more than 50 species of fish, crustaceans and, occasionally, small turtles. Thanks to their jaws and teeth, they can capture prey in complicated habitats.

Characteristics of the Pink Dolphin

In the case of males, they can measure up to 2.5 meters in length, with an average weight of up to 184 kilograms. The case of the female does not vary much, its weight ranges between 150 kilograms and can measure up to about 2.9 meters.

Although it is called the Amazon pink dolphin, its color varies over time. At birth they have a gray color that, with their longevity, lightens and changes until it becomes a characteristic pink color, with males being a little more pink than females.

Its head can move at an angle of 180 degrees, as it does not have cervical vertebrae. They have a long snout with more than 100 teeth, they have a prominent forehead, very small eyes, and unlike sea dolphins, their dorsal fin is more elongated and flat.

They breathe every 30 to 110 seconds and are capable of launching wide jets of water through their hole in the dorsal part. They swim up to 30 kilometers in a day, although they usually do so slowly in search of food at the bottom of the river.

Fuente: Shutterstock

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He lives naturally

They live in the main tributaries of the Amazon River, the Orinoco and the Madeira. The Amazon pink dolphin can be found in almost all major rivers, canals and rapid waterfalls. The drastic changes in the mouth of rivers during the various rainy and dry seasons can serve to perfectly determine all the areas they can occupy and the availability of food they can have.

They are not only suitable for living in waters but in large amounts of flooded forest in the rainy season, they can be found in small lake formations that connect with rivers, waterfalls or prominent waterfalls at the mouth of rivers.

What is the legend of the pink dolphin?

There are legends and myths about the Amazon pink dolphin. One of the best known tells that the pink dolphin was originally a young indigenous warrior transformed by a god who was envious of him due to his masculine attributes. During the summer festivals, the dolphin transforms back into a human to go to the villages and seduce the girls