The Araguaian river dolphin, or Araguaian boto (Inia araguaiaensis), is a river dolphin native to the Araguaia and Tocantins river basin of Brazil. It was distinguished from the Amazon river dolphin in January 2014 using nuclear microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA together with skull differences, chiefly a wider skull and a different number of teeth in each half of the lower jaw. Its recognition as a separate species is still debated, and the Society for Marine Mammalogy committee does not accept it, citing the very small number of specimens examined and the wide distance between the two sampling sites. Mitochondrial DNA suggests it split from the Amazon river dolphin about 2.08 million years ago, when the two river basins became separated. The population is estimated at 600 to 1,500 individuals and is threatened by dams, agriculture, ranching and fishermen who shoot or poison dolphins.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) ThreatsAgriculture and Aquaculture 1 ThreatsBiological Resource Use 1 ThreatsNatural System Modifications 1 Relationship to People Living or Extinct Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Araguaian river dolphin (Wikipedia)
In Biome
Source Araguaian river dolphin (Wikipedia)
River, Biomes Source Araguaian river dolphin (Wikipedia)
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Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Araguaian river dolphin (Wikipedia)Conservation issues, threatsQuote, Conservation issues, threats
The Tocantins River habitat is fragmented by six hydroelectric dams, so the population there is at particular risk.
Sources
1. Araguaian river dolphin (Wikipedia)
Lead
is a South American river dolphin population native to the Araguaia
Conservation issues
The authors of the discovery paper regard its probable eventual IUCN status to be Vulnerable or worse.
Description
They feed mainly on fish, aided by echolocation.
Conservation issues, threats
The Tocantins River habitat is fragmented by six hydroelectric dams, so the population there is at particular risk.
Conservation issues, threats (2)
The ecology of its habitat has been adversely affected by agricultural, ranching and industrial activities, as well as by the use of dams for hydroelectric power.
Conservation issues, threats (3)
However, commercial fishermen around the park have been killing them because they sometimes steal fish from nets.
Child Taxon Of: Inia, Discovery and species recognition
The recognition of I. araguaiaensis as a distinct species is still debated.
View the Source2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility: GBIF species descriptions: Inia araguaiaensis
Global Biodiversity Information FacilityStatus and Conservation, fisheriesQuote, Status and Conservation, fisheries
Interactions with fisheries, including net entanglement and dolphins being shot for taking fish from nets and offlines, result in direct mortality.
Iniidae - Wikipedia
Child Taxon Of: Iniidae, Taxonomy
Inia araguaiaensis
Child Taxon Of: Iniidae, Lead (family contains the genus Inia, to which this species belongs)
Iniidae is a family of freshwater river dolphins containing one living genus, Inia, and four extinct genera.
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