The skin of the Amazon river dolphin is commonly pink, especially in adult males.
The Amazon river dolphin, also called the pink river dolphin or boto, is a freshwater cetacean found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Its coloration ranges from gray to pink, so “pink” is the standard quiz answer even though not every individual is vividly pink.
Young dolphins are generally darker gray. Adults may become paler or pinker with age, and males are often more strongly colored because repeated contact and combat can produce scar tissue and increased blood flow near the skin. Water clarity, lighting, health, and individual variation also affect how the color appears.
Unlike ocean dolphins, Amazon river dolphins have flexible necks and broad flippers that help them maneuver among submerged roots and flooded forest. Their long snouts allow them to catch fish and other prey in tangled habitats. They are not albino, and the pink color is not caused by eating a particular food.
Seasonal flooding lets these dolphins enter forest channels and lakes that are inaccessible during the dry season.