Among Other Amazing Creatures, the Amazon Has Pink Dolphins

Imagine boating down one of thelongest rivers in the world, the Amazon River, minding your own business — calmly keeping an eye out for alarmingly largeanacondas— and a curious pink dolphin appears to swim alongside. While this may seem like a mythical creature, pinkdolphinsdo exist in the Amazon region.

The Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), also known as aboto, is a giant among its genus. It can measure up to 8 feet (2 meters) long and weigh around 450 pounds (204 kilograms) — as much asthree full kegsof beer! Size isn't the only thing that sets the Amazon river dolphin apart; thisfreshwaterdolphin, which thrives in South American rivers and temporary lakes caused by seasonal flooding, is sometimes ... shockingly pink.

Although born gray, males of the species are easily identified as they enter adulthood by a decisive pink hue. Their unusual coloring, which is sometimes wholly pink and sometimes mottled with gray undertones, is believed to be the由于疤痕组织from dolphin rumbles — whether playfighting or a serious bid for a mate. The richer the rosé, the more attractive the males are believed to be, and the older the male, the more the pink he will have.

There's also a theory that salmon-colored dolphins more readily blend in with their surroundings. During heavy rains, rivers along theAmazon rainforestturn a murky red/pink hue, and with their pink coloring, male dolphins are more easilycamouflaged.

The Amazon's pink river dolphins are one offive dolphin speciesthat live in freshwater rivers; they are distantly related to saltwater-adapted ocean dolphins. In addition to their distinctive pink color, the Amazon's pink river dolphins have another feature that sets them apart from their saltwater cousins. Unlike oceanic dolphins, which have a dorsal fin that protrudes from their backs, pink river dolphins have a hump instead.

The Amazonianwetland system, fed by the Amazon River, is a crucial place for pink dolphins to breed, and since 2018 has been granted internationally protected status. The area is home to an astounding variety of rare species. It includes hundreds of plant, bird, reptile, mammal and amphibian species that have thus far been cataloged.