People have known dolphins since ancient times. In total, there are about 50 species of these truly unique animals. And almost all of them are inhabitants of the warm waters of the World Ocean. There is only a small superfamily of four species of animals, three of which are freshwater inhabitants - river dolphins. One of these species is the Amazonian dolphin, which is also called pink. However, as it turned out quite recently, somewhere in the Southwest of the United States, a real miracle is swimming - a dolphin of intense pink color.
Pink miracle
In the United States, in the southwest of Louisiana, the Kalsasue salt lake is located. In 2009, the captain of a local shipping company, Eric Rui, discovered and photographed a rare pink bottlenose dolphin in the waters of the lake. Apparently - this is the only representative of cetaceans in the world, which has such a rare color in nature. According to Captain Rui, a unique animal always appears on the surface in the company of four more relatives, one of which, apparently, is his mother, who does not want to let go of her offspring.
The unusual dolphin is completely socialized. His behavior is no different from the behavior of other animals of this species. It was only noticed that it appears less often and remains on the surface somewhat longer than other individuals. According to scientists, the dolphin is quite healthy, and its unusual color is not at all the result of unfavorable environmental conditions or harmful solar radiation. The unique animal looks at the world with red eyes, which indicates albinism.
Albinism is a rather rare genetic trait characterized by the congenital absence of melanin, a substance that determines the color of the eyes, skin and hair.
So, the unique pink dolphin, according to experts, is an albino, although it is completely unclear how he inherited such a rare genetic quality.
Pink Amazon Dolphins
However, if we talk about the rare coloration of cetaceans, the glamorous albino dolphin is not as alone as it might seem. Inii, or Amazonian river dolphins, are born pale gray with a white belly. With age, their bodies acquire a pinkish or bluish color. How did it happen that dolphins - the original inhabitants of salt waters, settled in the rivers
It is assumed that 15 million years ago, the level of the World Ocean was higher. Huge areas of present-day South America were under the water column. When the ocean receded, the dolphins remained in their former territories.
River dolphins differ from all known ocean dolphins. They have a strongly elongated leathery snout resembling a beak. The main difference is that the cervical vertebrae of the river dolphin are not fused and the head can turn at an angle of 90 degrees. relative to the body. This is very convenient when swimming between flooded trees, of which there are many in the Amazon and its tributaries.
The branch of river dolphins separated earlier than others from the common ancestor of cetaceans and developed independently. Therefore, along with common features, they have some features that distinguish them from oceanic representatives of dolphins.
Amazonian pink dolphins are slower than their marine cousins. The usual speed of movement is 3-4 km / h, and the maximum is about 18. The Amazonian blue is playful and curious, easily tamed, but difficult to train. Therefore, they are rarely seen in aquariums. The locals consider dolphins to be sacred animals. Following the dolphins, fishermen find schools of fish. In addition, the ini disperse the piranhas.
River pink dolphins live in the largest rivers of South America - Amazon, Orinoco, which flow through Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Guiana. River Amazonian dolphins are listed as an endangered species in the International Red Data Book.
