The Orinoco river dolphin, Inia humboldtiana, also called the Orinoco bufeo, is a freshwater dolphin of the Orinoco River basin in northern South America. It belongs to the genus Inia of the river dolphin family Iniidae, and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility lists it as an accepted species. Its rank is disputed. It was first described in 1977 as a subspecies, Inia geoffrensis humboldtiana, of the Amazon river dolphin, and neither the IUCN nor the Society for Marine Mammalogy recognizes it as separate. Molecular analysis found the Orinoco dolphins derived from the Amazon population and not genetically distinct, while a 2020 study of skulls found them morphologically distinct and recommended that they be raised to species status. Its range includes the Apure and Meta rivers, and during the dry season it is restricted to the rapids of the Orinoco between Puerto Samariapo and Puerto Ayacucho and to the Casiquiare canal.
Facts
Classification
Population Trend System (Realm) ThreatsAgriculture and Aquaculture 3 ThreatsBiological Resource Use 3 ThreatsNatural System Modifications 3 Relationship to People Relationship to PeopleUsed in Traditional Medicine 3 Living or Extinct Conservation Status Body Size Band Activity Pattern Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Iniidae - Wikipedia
In Biome
Source Iniidae - Wikipedia
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Amazon River Dolphin (Wikipedia)Taxonomy, subspecies, Meta Rivertier 2Quote, Taxonomy, subspecies, Meta River
Inia geoffrensis humboldtiana are located in the Orinoco River basin, including the Apure and Meta rivers.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Amazon River Dolphin (Wikipedia)Taxonomy, subspecies, where it livestier 2Quote, Taxonomy, subspecies, where it lives
Inia geoffrensis humboldtiana are located in the Orinoco River basin, including the Apure and Meta rivers.
Sources
1. Amazon River Dolphin (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationTaxonomy, subspecies
This subspecies is not recognized by the Committee on Taxonomy of the Society for Marine Mammalogy, or the IUCN.
Diet
It consists of at least 53 different species of fish, grouped in 19 families.
Diet, activity
However, they are predominantly crepuscular.
Taxonomy, subspecies, where it lives
Inia geoffrensis humboldtiana are located in the Orinoco River basin, including the Apure and Meta rivers.
Taxonomy, subspecies, Meta River
Inia geoffrensis humboldtiana are located in the Orinoco River basin, including the Apure and Meta rivers.
Lead
In 2018, this species was ranked by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as endangered, with a declining population.
View the Source 2. Iniidae - Wikipedia
Lead, habitat
Iniidae is a family of freshwater river dolphins containing one living genus, Inia, and four extinct genera.
Taxonomy, extant genus
Current classifications include a single extant genus, Inia, with two to four species and several possible subspecies.
Child Taxon Of: Inia, Taxonomy, genus Inia
Inia humboldtiana - Orinoco river dolphin
Child Taxon Of: Iniidae, Taxonomy, family Iniidae
Inia humboldtiana - Orinoco river dolphin
In Group: Cetaceans (Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises), Lead
Iniidae is a family of freshwater river dolphins containing one living genus, Inia, and four extinct genera.
In Biome: Freshwater, Lead, freshwater
Iniidae is a family of freshwater river dolphins containing one living genus, Inia, and four extinct genera.
In Biome: River, Morphology and habitat, lead
All currently extant species of Iniidae are native to the river basins of South America
View the Source3. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Inia geoffrensis (Amazon river dolphin)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyPhysical Description
is the largest of the river dolphins, with males achieving a length of up to 2.55 m (average: 2.32 m) and a mass of up to 207 kg (average: 154 kg)
Conservation Status, fisheries
They have also been harpooned, shot, and poisoned for stealing fish out of nets and damaging the fishing equipment.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
native people may use the fat as a cure for asthma and the oil to treat rheumatic pains
Conservation Status, dams
Dams split up populations of I. geoffrensis, potentially reducing gene pools in these subpopulations to levels where they may not have enough genetic diversity to survive
Conservation Status, pollution
are polluted by pesticides from agricultural fields and heavy metals (including mercury) from gold refining
Conservation Status, deforestation
Deforestation for agriculture in floodplains reduces fish populations by eliminating the fruits and seeds in the flooded forests that they feed upon
View the Source 4. SeaLifeBase: Inia geoffrensis (SeaLifeBase)
SeaLifeBaseCITES statusQuote, CITES status
Appendix II: International trade monitored
5. Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of Liverpool: AnAge entry for Inia geoffrensis
Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of LiverpoolMaximum longevityQuote, Maximum longevity
31.3 years (captivity)
Inia humboldtiana accepted species record (GBIF backbone)
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