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Taxa

Iniidae

Mammal Families

Iniidae is a family of river dolphins containing the genus Inia, whose single recognized species, the Amazon river dolphin, is endemic to the freshwater river systems of South America, including the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Members of the family are among the largest river dolphins, distinguished from marine dolphins by long narrow snouts, flexible necks, and reduced dorsal fins adapted for maneuvering through flooded forest and river channels.

Facts
Taxonomic Rank
Family 1
Scientific Name
Iniidae 1
Geographic Distribution
All currently extant species of Iniidae are native to the river basins of South America 1
Defining Characteristics
Because their cervical vertebra are movable, the necks of Iniidae are flexible 1
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
highly reduced or absent dorsal fins 1
Sources
1. Iniidae - Wikipedia
  • Introduction, sentence 1 (rank clause)
    Iniidae is a family of freshwater river dolphins containing one living genus, Inia
  • Introduction, sentence 1 (name clause)
    Iniidae is a family of freshwater river dolphins containing one living genus, Inia
  • Introduction, distribution sentence
    All currently extant species of Iniidae are native to the river basins of South America
  • Morphology section, neck sentence
    Because their cervical vertebra are movable, the necks of Iniidae are flexible
  • Morphology section, dorsal fin clause
    highly reduced or absent dorsal fins
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