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    Inia – Amazon river dolphin

    The family of the largest river dolphins inhabits South America’s freshwater river basins

    South American river dolphins are famous for their gorgeous coloring, which ranges from dark grey to deep pink. Like humans, they use blood vessels in their skin to control their body temperatures. When they are hot, the dolphins pump more blood (and heat) to their skin’s surface, intensifying their pink coloration.

    South American dolphins are playful and curious, sometimes grabbing the oars on boats. Male dolphins are also known to carry branches and clay balls in their mouths as a way to impress the ladies. They are adapted for flexibility rather than speed and swim into flooded rainforest areas in pursuit of fish.