Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Delphinidae
- Genus
- Sotalia
Habitat
Tucuxi primarily inhabit freshwater rivers and tributaries in the Amazon and Orinoco basins of South America. They also occur in coastal marine waters up to brackish estuaries. These dolphins prefer turbid, slow-moving waters with abundant fish populations.
Diet
Tucuxi feed mainly on fish such as characids, catfish, and anchovies, which they catch using echolocation. They also consume crustaceans and occasionally squid, hunting in small groups during the day. Feeding typically occurs in shallow waters near riverbanks or shoals.
Behavior
Tucuxi are highly social, living in pods of 2 to 15 individuals that communicate with whistles and clicks. They are diurnal, active swimmers that often leap out of the water or ride boat wakes, and they exhibit playful behaviors like breaching. While not strongly territorial, they may defend feeding areas from other groups.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status of Tucuxi is Data Deficient due to limited data, but populations are believed to be declining from threats like habitat destruction from dams and pollution. Major threats include bycatch in fishing nets and chemical contamination in rivers.