The Amazon River Dolphin is the largest river dolphin in the world. Found in all shades of pink — from dull gray-pink to bright flamingo pink — the color variation results from water clarity; the darker the water, the pinker the dolphin. Their cervical vertebrae are unfused, allowing 180-degree head rotation. They have a very long, narrow beak lined with whiskers used to locate food in mud.
Amazon River Dolphins rely on a well-developed sense of hearing. Despite having small eyes, they have excellent vision both in and out of water. They also rely heavily on sensitive whiskers (vibrissae) on their beak to detect vibrations and locate prey in murky water.
Amazon River Dolphins use low-frequency sounds to communicate. Their vocalizations include clicks and low whistles suited to the acoustically complex environment of dense river channels.
Amazon River Dolphins use echolocation to locate prey in dark, sediment-laden river water. They hunt alone or in small groups, probing the riverbed and submerged roots with their long beak. They eat approximately 15–25 lbs of food per day.
Gestation
9 to 12 months. Females give birth every 4.5 to 5 years — one of the lowest reproductive rates of any river dolphin.
Birth
Calves are approximately 32 inches long at birth and weigh approximately 15 pounds. Birth typically occurs during peak flood season.
Calves
Calves typically stay with their mothers for the first 2.5 years of their life, during which they learn to navigate the complex flooded forest environment. Mothers are very protective.
Males sexually mature at approximately 7 feet in length; females at about 5.5 feet — typically between ages 6 and 10 years.
Generally solitary or found in small groups of 2–4. However, groups of up to 15 may gather at productive feeding sites, particularly at the mouths of rivers and lakes during dry season.
Amazon River Dolphins swim at approximately 9 mph and will cover up to 60 miles per day during seasonal migrations. They are the only dolphins that can bend their necks to look sideways and up and down.
In Amazonian folklore, the boto is said to transform into a handsome man at night. The dolphin has deep cultural significance throughout the Amazon basin and is considered bad luck to harm in many traditional communities.
30 years or more. Threats include deliberate killing for use as fishing bait, mercury pollution from illegal gold mining, habitat degradation from dam construction, and plastic pollution.
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