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Pretty Pink Dolphins Lurk In The Amazon River

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clock-iconPUBLISHEDJuly 4, 2023
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Pretty Pink Dolphins Lurk In The Amazon River

Kat Zhou won Underwater Photographer Of The Year 2023 with this image of a cerise cetacean.

Rachael Funnell headshot

Rachael Funnell

Rachael Funnell headshot

Rachael Funnell

Senior Science Writer

Rachael has a degree in Zoology from the University of Southampton, and specializes in animal behavior, evolution, palaeontology, and the environment.

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Senior Science Writer

Rachael has a degree in Zoology from the University of Southampton, and specializes in animal behavior, evolution, palaeontology, and the environment.View full profile

Rachael has a degree in Zoology from the University of Southampton, and specializes in animal behavior, evolution, palaeontology, and the environment.

View full profile
The Amazon's pink river dolphin

Barbie, who?

Image credit: © Kat Zhou/UPY2023

This article first appeared in Issue 9 of our free digital magazine CURIOUS.

In the murky waters of the Amazon lurk strange, toothed whales with long, narrow snouts and pink skin.

They start their lives gray but as they age more blood shows through, deepening the color, which also flushes pink when they’re excited.

Subscribe to our newsletter and get every issue of CURIOUS delivered to your inbox free each month. 

Kat Zhou was judged Underwater Photographer Of The Year 2023 for her photo entitled Boto Encantado. There’s a legend that these dolphins, known as “botos”, turn into handsome men called “boto encantado” to seduce women, hence the name.

CURIOUS magazine is a digital magazine from IFLScience featuring interviews, experts, deep dives, fun facts, news, book excerpts, and much more. Issue 12 is out now. 

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ORIGINALLY PUBLISHEDJuly 4, 2023

Written by Rachael Funnell

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