Amazon River Dolphin shown in its aquatic environment

Aquatic Life Profile · Freshwater Life

Amazon River Dolphin

Inia geoffrensisA flexible-necked river dolphin, often pink in adults, adapted to maneuvering through seasonally flooded forest.
Video space reservedJorge Andrade / Wikimedia Commons · Source · CC BY 2.0

Identification

How to recognize amazon river dolphin

Use several field marks together. Apparent color, scale, and proportions can change with depth, visibility, lighting, age, posture, and viewing angle.

Field marksLong narrow beak, low ridge instead of a dorsal fin, broad flippers, and gray-to-pink coloration
Habitat clueMost often associated with main rivers, tributaries, floodplain lakes, and flooded forest.
Identification practiceConfirm several field marks, location, size, and behavior rather than relying on color alone.

Behavior

What divers may observe

Behavior changes with location, season, life stage, food, reproductive activity, environmental conditions, and human presence.

Observation 1Moves into flooded forest during high water and uses echolocation to hunt in turbid channelsObservation 2Its movement and activity vary with season, food, life stage, and conditions across Amazon and Orinoco basins.Observation 3Responsible observations record context without changing the animal's natural behavior.

Habitat and range

Where this species lives

Amazon and Orinoco basins

Main rivers, tributaries, floodplain lakes, and flooded forest

Habitat note 1

Core habitat includes main rivers, tributaries, floodplain lakes, and flooded forest.

Habitat note 2

Range: Amazon and Orinoco basins. Local abundance and encounter timing can vary substantially.

Responsible encounters

Observe without changing the animal's behavior

Conditions and local regulations take priority. Follow the operator's briefing, maintain control, and allow wildlife to choose distance and direction.

Protect water and habitatAvoid disturbing spawning beds, shelter rocks, vegetation, and soft bottom habitat.
Observe from a stable positionDo not corner, handle, feed, or pursue wildlife; keep a safe distance in limited visibility.
Prevent species transferClean and dry equipment between watersheds and follow local invasive-species and access rules.

Connected destinations

Places associated with encounters

These are broad starting points, not guarantees. Seasons, access, animal presence, regulations, and operator schedules change. Confirm current information directly before planning.

Rio Negro, Brazil

Future connections can lead to destination, dive-site, aquarium, expedition, or operator pages.

Peruvian Amazon

Future connections can lead to destination, dive-site, aquarium, expedition, or operator pages.

Orinoco basin

Future connections can lead to destination, dive-site, aquarium, expedition, or operator pages.

Conservation

Status, pressures, and responsible participation

Current profile summaryEndangered globallyLegal and conservation status can differ by population and jurisdiction. Review the linked sources for current details.

Conservation note 1

Current profile status: Endangered globally.

Conservation note 2

Principal concerns include Entanglement, deliberate killing for bait, mercury, dams, vessel traffic, and river degradation.

Conservation note 3

Conservation status and regulations can differ by population and jurisdiction; verify current local guidance before an encounter.

Photography and video

Media spaces ready for future contributions

Each approved item can include a description, location, date, contributor credit, and source. Until then, every missing photograph and video remains clearly identified as a placeholder.

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Featured encounter

Primary underwater encounter video

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Identification

Close-up identification and field marks

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Natural behavior

Feeding, movement, or social behavior

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Habitat

The species in its natural environment

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Sources and verification

Learn more from the source organizations

IUCN Red List species search ↗Animal Diversity Web species account ↗
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