New species of river dolphin found in central Brazil river

Blue, pink-tipped, and rare, a new species of river dolphins was found in the rivers of central Brazil by scientists from the Universidade Federal do Amazonas.

 

National Geographic's site released a story on Saturday detailing the proposal of a new species of river dolphins from the Araguaia River Basin. Named the Araguaian boto (Inia araguaiaensis), the Boto (or river dolphin) is said to have enough genetic differences from other species to earn the designation of a new species.

 

"The degree of difference suggests that the Araguaian boto most likely separated from other dolphin species more than two million years ago," read the Nat Geo report.

 

Using samples from dead animals, scientists found out the unique characteristics of the Araguaian boto includes "compelling size differences in cranial features, and potentially in their number of teeth." 

 

Over 120 out of 600 Araguaian dolphins were observed over 12 weeks and instead of killing some for samples, dolphins found dead or in museums were used in dissections. 

 

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists three of the four known river dolphin species as "threatened," while the new species may be categorized as "vulnerable." Human activities such as dam constructions and fishing damage the dolphins' population, as the former can interfere with their reproductive cycles, while the latter intentionally controls their population in fear that there would be competition for fish.

 

"As we address the tremendous threats these animals face, these amazing discoveries are so important because they will hopefully lead to better protecting them. It could start a domino effect for conservation," said Howard Rosenbaum, director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Ocean Giants program in New York.

 

Before such qualifications could be made however, additional specimens need to be observed, and an appeal to the Society of Marine Mammalogy must be made.

 

The discovery of the Araguaian boto is the first new discovery of a river dolphin since the discovery of the Yangtze river dolphin or baiji in China. It was declared "functionally extinct" in 2006 after scientists failed to find the breed in the wild. — KDM, GMA News