New River Dolphin

[lamna]

A new species of river dolphin has been described from the Araguaia river in Brazil. Inia araguaiaensis was previously believed to just be Boto, but the two species haven't interbred in two million years.

They are slightly smaller and have a different number of teeth, but otherwise look very similar, hence why they have go unnoticed for so long.

BBC News - Brazil dolphin is first new river species since 1918

 

[vogelcommando]

Thanks for sharing this news lamna !

 

[Chlidonias]

not a lot of support for this split from what I've been reading. It is based on mitochondrial DNA and tiny morphological differences.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

I thought the Bolivian River Dolphin was still thought to be a subspecies of I. geoffrensis and not its own species.

~Thylo

 

[Chlidonias]

I thought the Bolivian River Dolphin was still thought to be a subspecies of I. geoffrensis and not its own species.

it is. In 2012 there was a move to split it as a full species but not many authorities accept the split.