Pink Dolphins – the Friendliest Mammals Known

Pink Dolphins – the Friendliest Mammals Known
Pink dolphins are much different from the dolphins you usually see when you are into the sea or ocean. You can also tell that they are adapted to their environment and they are very distantly in relation to the ones you see in the ocean.

There are five species of the river dolphins known till date and among them, the Amazon pink dolphins are referred to as the most intelligent among all. It has also been stated that the brain capacity of these species are 50% greater when compared with that of the humans.

Apart from the Amazon River, the pink dolphins can be a common sight along the upper Madeira River and also the Orinoco basins. As the name suggests, pink dolphins are mostly seen in pink colour even though other colour variations are also very well known including brown, light gray or even light pink.

It is simply amazing and yet shocking the among the five river dolphins known, except this variety the other four species are nearing extinction or can be said as they are extinct. On the other hand, these dolphins, pink in colour are known to constitute the greatest population among their own class.

Yet another surprising fact is that pink river dolphins are the most endangered species among the cetaceans known in the world. IUCN or the International Union for the Conservation of Nature listed them among the “vulnerable species-threatened” category. It was only recently they altered their section to another category, “endangered species-threatened”. This is an awful situation as we you can never find such friendly creatures anywhere else and they are facing extinction and we are just helpless other than to just sit and watch!

The reason for pink dolphins extinction is still on and the finding states that the destruction of Amazon basin has resulted in the demolition of its habitat thus leading to their extinction. Use of mercury in the gold mining process has also resulted in the death of a huge number of dolphins as the level of contaminants in mercury is too high for these social creatures to tolerate.

Yet another reason pointed out was the immense traffic in the Amazon basin. With such crowd, noise and disturbance of the nature’s balance makes them move here and there. Thus they get hit by sharp propellers or vessels leading to their death. Some other reasons include sound pollution; destruction of pink dolphins habitat and even the destruction of their progeny are some of the greatest faults from our side!
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The Pink Dolphins are from Delphinidae Family

The Pink Dolphins are from Delphinidae Family
The Delphinidae family, is made up of dolphins that people commonly know more about. These include include:

• Common Dolphin
• Risso's Dolphins
• Bottlenose Dolphin
• White-Sided Dolphin
• White Beaked Dolphin
• Dusky Dolphin
• Falkland Island Dolphin
• Hour Glass Dolphin
• Peale's Dolphin
• Sarawak Dolphin
• Pygmy Killer Whales
• Heaviside's Dolphin
• White Bellied Dolphins
• Orcas - also known as Killer Whales
• False Killer Whales
• Irrawaddy River Dolphins
• Pilot Whales
• Short-finned Pilot Whales
• Broad Beaked Dolphins
• Southern Right Whale Dolphins
• Northern Right Whale Dolphins

The last family in the Odonticeti sub-order is the Phocoenidae family, which is made up of the various species of porpoises. This includes the Harbor Porpoise, Spectacled Porpoise, Black Porpoise, Black Finless Porpoise, Dall's Porpoise, True's Porpoise, Finless Porpoise, and Cochito Porpoise.

The final sub-order of cetaceans is the Archaeoceti family. This is the family of whale's that no longer exists. They are fossil whales, as they existed before dolphin's began to evolve, and they date back 50 million years.
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Pink Dolphins are Cetaceans

Pink Dolphins are Cetaceans

All Pink dolphins belong to the cetacean family. This order includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

The Cetacean order is broken down into sub-orders. In other words, the entire cetacean family is broken down into smaller families.

The first sub-order is the Mysticeti family, which is made up of Baleen Whales. These whales capture prey by straining water through a series of baleen plates in their mouths. These plates act as filters to collect the food.

Included in the Mysticeti family is the Balaenopteridae family, which is made up of Minke Whales, Sei Whales, Bryde's Whales, Blue Whales, Fin Whales, and the Humpback Whales. These are all fast swimmers that take in a great amount of water in an expanding buccal cavity, then expel the water through the baleen to capture their prey. Their bodies are very streamlined, which allows them to be lunging feeders.

The next family of cetaceans in the Mysticeti group is the Balaenidae family. The Bowhead Whales, Northern Right Whales, Southern Right Whales, and Pygmy Right Whales make up this group, and they are characterized by their habit of being slow-moving, continuous filter feeders. Still in the Mysteiceti group, the next family is the Eschrichtidae family. This family is comprised of the Gray Whale.
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Are Pink Dolphins Really Smart?

Are Pink Dolphins Really Smart?
Pink Dolphin Intelligence

If you were to step out into the street and ask the first ten people you see whether or not they believed dolphins were creatures of intelligence, 8 of 10 would probably say yes. If you ask two scientists the exact same question, you just may be opening up a debate that could last for hours.

Most scientists to-date have refused to take a firm stand on the intelligence level of the dolphin, and although many will admit that pink dolphins seem to be intelligent creatures, it is not a proven fact. The biggest problem researchers are running into seems to be the actual definition of intelligence and the way it can be tested in animals.

Darwin's theory bases intelligence on the ability of a species to recognize what it needs to survive, while other schools of thought believe the the size and architecture of the brain, the ability to communicate, or the ability to exhibit playfulness are the indicators.

Another reason that the research on pink dolphin intelligence is limited is because it's difficult and expensive to do in the wild. Dolphins in captivity, may respond differently based on their surroundings and are therefore may not be representative of the wild dolphin. While the U.S. Navy has carried out extensive research on the dolphin and have even trained them to search and even tag mines, that information has not been released to the public.

While most of us outside the scientific realm know that dolphins do communicate with each other and they're one of the most playful animals in the universe, we've never been exposed to the intricacies of the dolphin's brain. Consequently, you may surprised to know that the dolphin brain is actually much larger than the human brain. Dolphins have two hemispheres just like humans however, theirs are split into four lobes instead of three. The fourth lobe in the dolphin's brain actually hosts all of the senses, whereas in a human, the senses are split. Some believe that having all of the senses in one lobe allow the dolphin to make immediate and often complicated judgments that are well beyond the scope of a human ability.

When studying the neo-cortex, which is the outside surface of the brain that is responsible for forming perceptions, memories and thoughts, dolphins have more convolution than the most intelligent humans. It is thought that dolphins may also be able to use the hemispheres of their brain separately as they have separate blood supplies which is something that is exclusive only to the dolphin. To add more weight to this supposition, pink dolphins are also able to move their eyes independently which has lead some researchers to suggest that the dolphin may actually be able to sleep with one side of it's brain at a time.

Some researchers have suggested that the size and complexity of the brain at birth is a better measure of intelligence. If that research holds up, however, once more the dolphin comes out on top. The bottle-nose dolphin has a brain mass at birth that is 42.5% of that of an adult humans brain mass. Humans at birth have 25% of their adult counterparts. At 18 months, the brain mass of the bottle-nose dolphin is 80% of the adult human, who doesn't usually achieve this level until the age of three or four.

While the research that has been obtained certainly makes it look like the pink dolphin may be the closest to our own level of intelligence, it may be quite some time before it's actually prove. Until then, they're true capabilities will remain a mystery.
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What do pink dolphins eat?

What do pink dolphins eat?

Like all dolphins, the pink Amazon river dolphin, which is the largest of the world’s four freshwater dolphin species, eats fish. Even though food is plentiful in the waters of the Amazon and Orinoco river drainages, the pink dolphin, or “boto,” as it is called by natives, is not a picky eater. Around 50 species of small freshwater fishes are on its menu, and it often hunts for them by poking its long, slightly curved beak among the branches of the sunken trees that litter the river bottoms.

But the question “how do pink dolphins eat?” is at least as interesting as “what do pink dolphins eat?” because their amazing beaks, which are full of extraordinarily sharp teeth, help them in many ways.

All dolphins find food by using echolocation, or sonar, and echolocation is especially important to botos on the hunt because visibility is extremely poor in their murky river habitats. A pink dolphin locates a fish by sending out high-frequency sound pulses from the top of its head. When these sound waves reach the fish, they are deflected back to the dolphin, who senses them through the long jawbone in its extremely long beak–the jawbone acts almost like an antenna. The dolphin then moves in to grab the fish.

Most of the fish in the pink dolphin’s diet are very bony compared to ocean fish. Many have tough, almost “armored,” outer bodies, and some even protect themselves with sharp, hard spines. But these defenses are no match for the pink dolphin’s powerful jaw and “armor-piercing” teeth. The teeth at the front of the boto’s beak are designed for puncturing and holding even the toughest of catfish; the teeth at the back of the beak form a superb and merciless crushing tool.

Once a fish is caught and crushed, the boto, as all dolphins do with their food, swallows it without chewing. Later, it may regurgitate bones spines and other indigestible parts.

So the correct answer to the question, “what do pink dolphins eat?” is, almost anything small that swims.
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10 Facts About Dolphins

10 Facts About Dolphins
Pink Dolphins

Dolphins are well known for their intellect, their gregarious nature, and their acrobatic abilities. But there are many lesser known qualities that make a dolphin a dolphin. Here we'll explore ten characteristics of dolphins and learn more about these much-loved marine mammals.

1. Dolphins belong to a group of mammals referred to as cetaceans (or Cetacea). The cetaceans are further broken down into two main groups, the toothed whales (or Ondontoceti) and the baleen whales (Mysticeti). Dolphins are classified as toothed whales (Ondontoceti). Other toothed whales include killer whales, pilot whales, beluga, narwhal, sperm whales, and several groups of river dolphins.

2. The term 'dolphin' refers to a diverse assortment of marine mammals. The term dolphin is not restricted to a single taxonomic class and therefore is an unspecific term. The groups of toothed whales whose members are often referred to as dolphins include the oceanic dolphins (Delphinidae), river dolphins (Iniidae), and the Indian river dolphins (Platanistidae). Of these groups the oceanic dolphins are by far the most diverse.

3. Oceanic dolphins are also referred to as 'true dolphins' and are the most diverse group of cetaceans. The species of dolphins that belong to the Family Delphinidae are referred to as 'oceanic' or 'true' dolphins. The Delphinidae group includes about 32 species and is the largest of all subgroups of the cetaceans. Species of oceanic dolphins (Delphinidae) inhabit the open ocean, though this is not a strict rule for the group (in some cases, oceanic dolphins inhabit coastal waters or riverine habitats).

4. Some oceanic dolphins have a prominent beak also known as a 'rostrum'. The snout of some oceanic dolphins is long and slender due to their elongated, prominent jaw bones. Within the dolphins' elongated jaw bone sits numerous conical teeth (some species have as many as 130 teeth in each jaw). Species that have prominent beaks include, for example, Common Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin, Atlantic Humpbacked Dolphin, Tucuxi, Long-Snouted Spinner Dolphin, and numerous others.

5. A dolphin's forelimbs are known as 'pectoral flippers'. The forelimbs of a dolphin are anatomically equivalent to the forelimbs of other mammals (for example, they are analogous to arms in humans). But the bones within the forelimbs of dolphins have been shortened and made more rigid by supporting connective tissue. Pectoral flippers enable dolphins to steer and modulate their speed.

6. Some dolphin species lack a dorsal fin. The dorsal fin of a dolphin (located on the back of the dolphin) acts like a keel when the animal swims, giving the animal directional control and stability within the water. But not all dolphins have a dorsal fin. For example, the Northern Rightwhale Dolphins and the Southern Rightwhale Dolphins lack dorsal fins.

7. Dolphins have a unique sense of hearing. Dolphins do not have prominent external ear openings. Their ear openings are small slits (located behind their eyes) which do not connect to the middle ear. Instead, scientists suggest that sound is conducted to the inner and middle ear by fat-lobes located within the lower jaw and by various bones within the skull.

8. Dolphins have excellent vision in and out of the water. When light passes from air to water, it changes speed. The creates an optical effect referred to as refraction. For dolphins, this means their eyes must correct for these differences if they are to see clearly in both conditions. Fortunately, dolphins have specially adapted lens and cornea that enable them to see clearly in and out of the water.

9. The Baiji is a critically endangered river dolphin that inhabits the murky waters of the Yangtze River in China. The Baiji has suffered dramatic population declines over recent decades due to pollution and heavy industrial use of the Yangtze river. In 2006, a scientific expedition set out to locate any remaining Baiji but failed to find a single individual in the Yangtze. The species was declared functionally extinct.

10. Dolphins probably do not have a very strong olfactory sense. Dolphins, like all toothed whales, lack olfactory lobes and nerves. Because dolphins do not possess these anatomical features, they most likely have a poorly developed sense of smell.
Pink Dolphins
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Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Pink Dolphins

Facts Bottlenose Dolphin
Because of their propensity for coastal areas and their popularity in marine parks, bottlenose dolphins are one of the most well-known and recognizable cetaceans. Bottlenose dolphins are relatively large, streamlined animals with gray coloration and a prominent "beak." They are known for their acrobatic activity.
Description:

Bottlenose dolphins can grow to 8-12 feet and weigh up to about 1,400 pounds. They have a gray back that ranges from light to dark gray and a lighter underside. Like other Odontocetes, bottlenose dolphins live in pods, although the structure of these pods may be looser than that of other toothed whales, like the orca.

Bottlenose dolphins are considered one of the smartest animals on the planet.
Classification:

* Kingdom: Animalia
* Phylum:Chordata
* Class: Mammalia
* Order: Cetacea
* Suborder: Odontoceti
* Family: Delphinidae
* Genus: Tursiops
* Species: truncatus

Habitat and Distribution:

Bottlenose dolphins inhabit temperate and tropical waters all over the world. It is found in the U.S. from New England down to Florida and west to California. There are also bottlenose dolphins in the United Kingdom and parts of South America, Japan and South Africa.

Those who live in or visit the southern U.S. and Gulf coast have likely been delighted by sightings of coastal bottlenose dolphins from the beach or along local waterways.

There appear to be two types of bottlenose dolphins, 'coastal' dolphins that inhabit nearshore areas, harbors and estuaries, and 'offshore' dolphins, which tend to gather in larger pods out in the pelagic ocean. In fact, some distinguish these two types of dolphins as different species.
Feeding:
Bottlenose dolphins eat fish, squid and crustaceans and have a variety of ways to get their food. Some capture food individually, and some work cooperatively by feeding on fish at mud banks. A group of dolphins chase the fish, creating a wave that carries the fish up onto a mudbank, where the dolphins snap them up. Like other toothed whales, they can find prey using echolocation.
Reproduction:
Bottlenose dolphins are sexually mature between 5-14 years of age. Mating and calving takes place throughout the year, and one calf is born after a 12-month gestation period. The calves nurse for about 18 months but may stay with their mother for as long as 6 years.
Conservation:

Bottlenose dolphins were first captured for display in 1913 and since then, they have pervaded marine parks, television and movies. The most popular dolphin was "Flipper," who starred in its own TV show and movie. The original Flipper was named Mitzi, and she lived a short 14 years. The normal lifespan of bottlenose dolphins is at least 40-50 years.

Bottlenose dolphins are listed under the IUCN Redlist as a species of least concern. In the U.S., they are common. NOAA notes that there are 11 stocks of bottlenose in the U.S., some (the western North Atlantic offshore population) numbering over 80,000 individuals.
Bottlenose Dolphin Research:

Because they are so prevalent in marine parks, and many live close to shore, the bottlenose dolphin is one of the most well-studied dolphin species.

In the wild, bottlenose dolphins can be identified using their natural characteristics, including the shape of their dorsal fins. Cataloging individuals allows researchers to learn about the life history of individual whales and the species as a whole.
Pink Dolphins