The existence of pink dolphins may sound like a myth. But these creatures do exist. They live in the Amazon region.
The Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), also known as the boto, is a giant among its genus. It can reach 2 meters in length and weigh about 204 kilograms.
Size is not the only thing that distinguishes this Amazon river dolphin from other dolphins. Boto pink alias pink. Although born gray, males of this species are easy to identify as they enter adulthood by their pink hue.
Quoted from How Stuff Works, they slowly turn pink with age. The final color obtained is influenced by behavior, capillary placement, diet, and exposure to sunlight.
The Amazon river pink dolphin is one of five dolphin species that live in freshwater rivers. They are distantly related to marine dolphins that are adapted to salt water. In addition to their characteristic pink coloration, Amazonian pink river dolphins have other features that distinguish them from their saltwater "cousins".
Unlike marine dolphins, which have dorsal fins protruding from their backs, pink river dolphins have a hump instead.
The Amazon wetland system, which flows through the Amazon River, is an important place for pink dolphins to breed. Since 2018, the region has been granted an internationally protected status.
In addition to the pink dolphin, the area is home to an astonishing array of endangered species, including the hundreds of species of plants, birds, reptiles, mammals and amphibians that have so far been cataloged.
