Biology: Amazon River Dolphin

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The Amazon River Dolphins at Duisburg Zoo in June 2006

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The Amazon or Pink River Dolphin (also called Bufeo, Bufeo Colorado, Boto, Boutu and Nay) is a species of freshwater dolphin (Inia geoffrensis). The are found in tributaries and main rivers of the Orinoco River systems of South America. They tend to gather at confluences of rivers.

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Range of the Amazon River Dolphin

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They grow 2.5 to 3 meters (8.25 ft to 9.75 ft) and weigh 90 kilograms (200 lbs.). Generally, males are larger. They have a pinkish coloring probably due to capillaries near the surface of the skin.

The Amazon River Dolphin has 25-30 peg-like front teeth for catching prey and it mainly eats crustaceans, crabs, turtles, catfish and other fish.

Having no known natural enemies they do not live in large pods. Amazon River dolphins engage in solitary hunting/feeding strategies during the high water season when their prey fishes disperse into the floodplains. At other times, they are found in small "family" groups of 5-8 animals which seem to be led by a dominant adult male.

The intelligence of Amazon River dolphins has not been extensively tested. Their encephalization quotient (the ratio of brain mass to body weight) compares favorably with that of the bottlenose dolphin.

Sources:
Wikipedia
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY for the Preservation of the TropicalRainforest