Buoto, or inii… Are you familiar with such names? Probably not. This is the name of pink dolphins in their habitats. Surprised that such animals exist? Then let's get acquainted in detail with the features of their life.
Pink dolphins are a mystery of nature
These unusual creatures amaze primarily with the color of the skin. Juveniles are born light grey. As they mature, they acquire a pink or less often blue hue. It can be assumed that with such exotic features they are actively used for training. But that's not the case at all. The fact is that representatives of this species are quite aggressive even towards each other and are difficult to train.
Pay attention to how pink dolphins look (see photo in the article). By nature, they are albinos, but in terms of body shape and size they are no different from ordinary representatives of toothed whales. For scientists, they still remain a mystery. Therefore, their origin is still explained only by legends. One of them says that pink dolphins at night turn into beautiful young men who seduce girls. There is also a belief that they are inhabited by souls.drowned.
Origin
Despite all the mysteries, taxonomists have determined the position of these amazing creatures in the system of the organic world. River pink dolphins are aquatic mammals belonging to the suborder Toothed whales.
Features of the external structure
The appearance that pink dolphins have (photos clearly demonstrate it) is typical of their representatives. The body length usually does not exceed 2.5 m, and the weight is about 200 kg. Only adults have a characteristic body color. Lake dwellers tend to be darker than river dwellers.
Pink dolphins are characterized by rather unusual sexual demorphism. The fact is that males are larger than females, which is not typical for most animals.
The body of dolphins is elongated, becoming thinner towards the tail. It ends with a beak, which is slightly curved down and covered with bristles. The number of teeth is about 120. They are differentiated and perform the functions of capturing, holding and chewing food. The cornea of small eyes is yellow. This device is protected from bright light. The head of pink dolphins is movable and can turn 90 degrees. The single caudal and paired ventral fins act as a rudder. But the back is missing. It is replaced by a small gentle hump.
Pink dolphins: where they live and what they eat
The habitat of these species are the Amazon and Orinoco river basins. Here they arelive in tributaries and small channels, estuaries, peaks and lower reaches of waterfalls and rapids.
The pink river dolphin is not found in s alt water, which is the limiting factor in its range. Their diet is fish, sometimes turtles and crabs. Pink dolphins are able to eat about 10 kg of food per day. They are active, regardless of the time of day, even able to penetrate fishing nets for prey or swim in search of boats.
These amazing organisms are serious predators. They can even drive schools of fish together with otters, with whom they are neighbors in the range.
This type of dolphin uses more than just touch and hearing to hunt successfully. Under water, they are very well helped by the ability to echolocation. The essence of this phenomenon is to recognize the position of the object by the period of time during which the reflected wave returns.
Lifestyle
Pink dolphins are most often sedentary. Their movements are usually associated with seasonal changes in water levels. When rivers become shallow, they move closer to the channels. During flooding, pink dolphins prefer small channels. There are known cases of their migration from one river to another along flooded land.
Individuals usually live alone or in pairs - a mother with a cub. They are often aggressive towards each other. But in places with a lot of food or during the breeding season, they can be found in clusters.
It has been proven that pink dolphins can communicate with each other usingclicks, squeals, loud screams and whimpers.
Meaning in nature
Representatives of this species have no special commercial value. In ancient times, their fat was used to fill lamps, as well as a drug for asthma attacks and rheumatism. Amulets for rituals are made from individual parts of the body.
But for fishermen, the presence of frost is a good sign. It means the presence of a large number of fish. In addition, pink dolphins drive away dangerous piranhas, making many places in the rivers safer.
Due to the fact that pink dolphins often tear the fishing nets and eat the intended catch, they have been exterminated for a long time. Now a ban has been imposed on these actions, and many species are listed in the Red Book.
Pink dolphins are amazing representatives of the animal world, many of the secrets of whose life activity mankind has yet to discover.
