r/oceancreatures

The Tucuxi River Dolphin

This segment that I’m dedicating 7 days to, is the start of something I want to make a mini series in the future, It will cover underrated and problem very little known species from the world but first we are starting in South America

First is a species of Cetacean most probably never knew about, The Tucuxi River Dolphin.

If you thought the Boto (Pink River Dolphin) was the only freshwater Dolphin in South America, welp enter these guys.

At first glance they look like somebody just shrank a Bottlenose Dolphin and sent it up river being very reminiscent of their marine relatives yet they’re still distinctive.

Found in the Orinoco Basin along the countries of Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador and Brazil at about 4-5ft, it is smaller than the more well known Pink River Dolphin. This species has captured my attention for a long time and I definitely wanted to shed more light on them.

South America as a whole is such an underrated Continent and even more their rivers and the Fauna that call it home, with Bull Sharks, Black Caimans, Massive Freshwater Fish, Electric Eels, Amazonian Manatees and 2 species of Dolphins showing just how distinctive this place is.

Tucuxi River Dolphins live in tight nit groups up to 15 and primary feed on the various groups of fish that also frequent the rivers, at least 30 different types. Ironically enough they have even been witnessed feeding alongside River Dolphins.

The Guiana Dolphin has been known to inhabit estuaries and even come upstream but they are classified as Marine Dolphins, sharing a similar appearance to the Tucuxi but while one hovers round brackish waters, estuaries and the occasional freshwater the other is exclusively inland.

Just a highlight on this amazing species of Dolphin. I hope that it gains more attention in the media soon but not too much, we need these protected more than anything else.

I had so much fun going to Seattle and getting to what a low tide ocean is like. Such beautiful scenery and so many cool wildlife. Starfish, crabs, eels, clams, etc. I got to play with some of the little crabs. Don't worry they were not harmed and respectfully put back in their place 💚

I would love to explore more of Washington and even Oregon. Which places should I visit next?

Photographer credit: Tavi Castro

I left it in my car overnight, and when I returned to it, I noticed the fuzzy on it. I did not see any fuzz in it when I found it.

I found these skate eggs with some really cool eggs from other animals on them but I have no idea what type of animals they could be. Can anyone help ID them? These were found in the gulf of Alaska near Kodiak island! They look so cool, are they some type of snail egg?

Found on a rocky beach in Bristol RI.

Found beached at Sunset Bay Beach in Cape May NJ. When I put salt water on it, it reacted so I pushed it back into the ocean. Help me identify it?

Ngl it makes my skin crawl when i watch the video. What the heck is this?

• 👁️ Its head is transparent.
• 💚 The green "dots" are its real eyes—the front spots are nostrils.
• 🔄 Its eyes can rotate to look up or forward.
• 🌊 It lives about 600–800 m (2,000–2,600 ft) deep.
• 🪼 It steals prey from jelly-like animals.
• 📏 It's only about 6 inches (15 cm) long.
• 👽 It looks so bizarre that people often mistake it for CGI.