Mammals
Tucuxi
Sotalia fluviatilis · also called tucuxis
Riding the bow wave of a passing boat along a busy stretch of Amazon river, a tucuxi leaps energetically, often mistaken by onlookers for a small bottlenose dolphin despite being a genuinely distinct species that also thrives in coastal waters far beyond the river its larger neighbour, the Amazon river dolphin, never leaves.
Overview
The tucuxi, Sotalia fluviatilis, is an acrobatic dolphin native to freshwater river systems of the Amazon basin and coastal marine waters along northern and central South America. Its frequent mistaken identity as a small bottlenose dolphin, unusual dual freshwater and marine lifestyle, and considerably smaller size compared with the Amazon river dolphin it sometimes shares rivers with make it one of the more behaviourally flexible and commonly misidentified dolphins found in South America.
A dolphin equally at home in two very different waters
Unlike the strictly freshwater Amazon river dolphin, the tucuxi has kept a foot in both worlds, thriving in river systems and coastal marine waters alike, a flexibility that sets it apart from many of its more habitat-restricted relatives.
Status
Near Threatened and decreasing, present across suitable river and coastal habitat throughout northern and central South America, with declines linked to boat traffic and pollution.
Tucuxi: common questions
Why is the tucuxi often confused with the bottlenose dolphin?
This species is frequently mistaken for a small bottlenose dolphin due to a broadly similar body shape and beak, despite belonging to an entirely different genus within the wider dolphin family, a resemblance based on general appearance rather than any close relationship between the two.
How is the tucuxi different from the Amazon river dolphin?
This species is considerably smaller than the Amazon river dolphin despite both occupying overlapping river habitat across parts of the Amazon basin, and unlike the more strictly freshwater Amazon river dolphin, the tucuxi also occupies coastal marine waters along northern and central South America.
Is the tucuxi acrobatic like other dolphins?
Yes, this species is notably acrobatic, frequently leaping clear of the water and riding the bow waves of boats, behaviours that make it considerably easier to spot than some other, more reserved river cetaceans sharing similar habitat.
Why is the tucuxi considered Near Threatened?
This species faces significant threats from boat traffic, pollution, and habitat degradation across the busy river and coastal waterways it depends on, pressures that have driven a decreasing population trend in parts of its range despite the species remaining more broadly distributed than some other river cetaceans.