Nature Atlas

How Nature Works
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme

Switch Atlas

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
Member Count Band
Under 10 Species 3
Era First Appeared
Neogene 4
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
highly reduced or absent dorsal fins 1
Classification
Living or Extinct
Yes 2
Connections

Parent Taxon Of

Amazon River Dolphin, Species
Source Iniidae - Wikipedia
Araguaian River Dolphin, Species
Source Iniidae - Wikipedia
Bolivian River Dolphin, Species
Source Iniidae - Wikipedia
Goniodelphis, Taxa
Source Goniodelphis (Wikipedia)
Goniodelphis hudsoni, Species
Source Goniodelphis (Wikipedia)
Inia, Taxa
Source Iniidae - Wikipedia
Ischyrorhynchus, Taxa
Source Ischyrorhynchus (Wikipedia)
Ischyrorhynchus vanbenedeni, Species
Source Ischyrorhynchus (Wikipedia)
Isthminia, Taxa
Source Iniidae - Wikipedia
Isthminia panamensis, Species
Source Iniidae - Wikipedia
Kwanzacetus, Taxa
Source Kwanzacetus (Wikipedia)
Kwanzacetus khoisani, Species
Source Kwanzacetus (Wikipedia)
Meherrinia, Taxa
Source Meherrinia (Wikipedia)
Meherrinia isoni, Species
Source Meherrinia (Wikipedia)
Orinoco river dolphin, Species
Source Iniidae - Wikipedia
Saurocetes, Taxa
Source Saurocetes (Wikipedia)
Saurocetes argentinus, Species
Source Saurocetes (Wikipedia)
Saurocetes gigas, Species
Source Saurocetes (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

South America

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

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
  • Parent Taxon Of: Amazon River Dolphin, Taxonomy
    Inia geoffrensis - Amazon river dolphin
  • Parent Taxon Of: Inia, Lead
    Iniidae is a family of freshwater river dolphins containing one living genus, Inia, and four extinct genera.
  • Parent Taxon Of: Bolivian River Dolphin, Taxonomy
    Inia boliviensis
  • Parent Taxon Of: Araguaian River Dolphin, Taxonomy
    Inia araguaiaensis
  • Parent Taxon Of: Bolivian River Dolphin, 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.
  • Parent Taxon Of: Araguaian River Dolphin, 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.
  • Parent Taxon Of: Isthminia, Taxonomy, genus list
    †Isthminia panamensis
  • Parent Taxon Of: Isthminia panamensis, Taxonomy, species list
    †Isthminia panamensis
  • Parent Taxon Of: Orinoco river dolphin, Taxonomy, family Iniidae
    Inia humboldtiana - Orinoco river dolphin
View the Source
2. Wikidata: Iniidae
  • Living or Extinct: Yes
View the Source
3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Iniidae
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
Quote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 1
View the Source
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Iniidae
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Iniidae" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 20.45 ... "early_interval": "Burdigalian"
View the Source
Kwanzacetus (Wikipedia)
  • Parent Taxon Of: Kwanzacetus, Lead
    extinct genus of iniid
  • Parent Taxon Of: Kwanzacetus khoisani, Lead
    extinct genus of iniid
View the Source
Goniodelphis (Wikipedia)
  • Parent Taxon Of: Goniodelphis, Lead
    an extinct iniid river dolphin
  • Parent Taxon Of: Goniodelphis hudsoni, Lead
    an extinct iniid river dolphin
View the Source
Saurocetes (Wikipedia)
  • Parent Taxon Of: Saurocetes, Lead
    probable iniid river dolphins
  • Parent Taxon Of: Saurocetes argentinus, Lead
    probable iniid river dolphins
  • Parent Taxon Of: Saurocetes gigas, Lead
    probable iniid river dolphins
View the Source
Ischyrorhynchus (Wikipedia)
  • Parent Taxon Of: Ischyrorhynchus, Lead
    probable iniid river dolphins
  • Parent Taxon Of: Ischyrorhynchus vanbenedeni, Lead
    probable iniid river dolphins
View the Source
Meherrinia (Wikipedia)
  • Parent Taxon Of: Meherrinia, Lead
    the only known marine genus of the family Iniidae
  • Parent Taxon Of: Meherrinia isoni, Lead
    the only known marine genus of the family Iniidae
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.