Araguaian river dolphin

Inia range map PLoS ONE

Araguaian river dolphin

Species	I. araguaiaensis

The Araguaian river dolphin (Inia araguaiaensis) is a species of river dolphin that is native to the Araguaia-Tocantins basin in Brazil. It was officially described in 2014 by a team of researchers led by Tomas Hrbek.

Description

The Araguaian river dolphin is characterized by its long snout and a distinctive hump on its back. It has a pinkish coloration and is known for its shy and elusive nature. This species is closely related to the Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis).

Behavior

Araguaian river dolphins are primarily solitary animals, although they may form small groups on occasion. They are known to be highly vocal, using a variety of clicks and whistles to communicate with each other and navigate their environment.

Conservation

The conservation status of the Araguaian river dolphin is currently not well understood, but it is believed to face threats from habitat loss, pollution, and incidental capture in fishing gear. Efforts are being made to study and protect this species in its natural habitat.

Taxonomy

The Araguaian river dolphin belongs to the family Iniidae within the order Cetacea. It is classified under the genus Inia along with the Amazon river dolphin.