- Its taxonomy is still under debate; two other species have been proposed: I. boliviensis and I. araguaiaensis.
- Body colour varies with age: from grey to pink.
- Males are larger and heavier than females and tend to be more intensely coloured (pink).
- Its body length at birth is about 80 cm.
- Its body is extremely flexible, allowing it to navigate inside the flooded forest in search of its prey.
- It can move the head in all directions (up and down and sideways), which increases the area of scanning with the sonar.
- Inia is the only dolphin with two types of teeth (heterodonty).
- Its diet includes a great variety of fish (over 45 species).
- It is known to carry objects like sticks or branches, potentially as a sociosexual behaviour.
- It has been illegally hunted to be used as bait for piracatinga (Calophysus macropterus), which is attracted to rotting carcasses.
It can reach a body length of 250 cm. The body mass at birth is about 12 kg. Females produce first offspring at an average age of 9.7 years. The gestation period is about 12 months. Body colour varies with age: from grey to pink.
It can move the head in all directions (up and down and sideways), which increases the area of scanning with the sonar. Its taxonomy is still under debate; two other species have been proposed: I. boliviensis and I. araguaiaensis.
Contact person
