Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Iniidae
- Genus
- Inia
- Species
- Inia geoffrensis
Habitat
This subspecies inhabits the freshwater rivers of the Araguaia and Tocantins basins in central Brazil. It prefers deep, slow-moving waters with abundant vegetation and fish populations. They are rarely found in fast currents or brackish environments.
Diet
The Araguaian river dolphin primarily eats fish such as catfish, characins, and tetras, along with crustaceans like shrimp and crabs. It uses echolocation to locate prey in murky waters, typically hunting during the day in shallow areas. Feeding often occurs solitarily or in small groups.
Behavior
Araguaian river dolphins are usually solitary or form small groups of up to four individuals, with loose social structures. They are diurnal, spending much of their time swimming slowly and surfacing to breathe, while using echolocation for navigation and communication. Males may exhibit territorial behavior during mating seasons, but overall, they are not highly aggressive.
Conservation Status
The IUCN lists Inia geoffrensis as Endangered, and the Araguaian subspecies faces similar risks with a decreasing population trend due to habitat loss from dam construction, pollution, and bycatch in fishing nets.