Knowra River dolphin River dolphin River dolphins are toothed whales adapted to freshwater river systems. The name covers several distinct lineages in South America and Asia, rather than one closely related family.
Cetacea : The order of mammals that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. River dolphins are cetaceans that returned to freshwater habitats.
Acoustic communication : The transmission and interpretation of information through sound. Clicks and other sounds support orientation and communication in low-visibility rivers.
Amazon river dolphin : A large South American river dolphin, also known as the boto, found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. It is the best-known living river dolphin of South America.
Baiji : A freshwater dolphin endemic to China’s Yangtze River, declared functionally extinct after decades of decline. Its collapse is the clearest warning about intensive river development and wildlife loss.
Odontoceti : The cetacean suborder of toothed whales, which use echolocation and include dolphins and porpoises. River dolphins belong to this toothed-whale branch.
Prey capture : The behaviors and physical processes animals use to detect, seize, and consume food. River dolphins hunt fish and other prey in complex, obstructed waterways.
Bolivian river dolphin : A river dolphin population in Bolivia’s upper Madeira basin, recognized as a distinct species by some authorities. Its isolation above rapids makes it a notable case of river-basin divergence.
Bycatch : The accidental capture of non-target animals during fishing. Fishing nets are a major source of injury and mortality for river dolphins.
Echolocation : The use of reflected sound waves to detect objects and estimate their distance or shape. River dolphins rely on sound to navigate and find prey in murky water.
Hydrodynamics : The study of how liquids move and exert forces on objects. River currents and shallow channels shape the dolphins’ swimming and maneuvering.
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