Unknown species of river dolphin discovered in Brazil

A new species of river Dolphin was recently spotted in the Araguaia River basin in Brazil. Nature keeps on amazing us with these new discoveries. This marine mammal is supposed to be the first species of river dolphin after the classifications made in 1918.

Unlike other river dolphins found in Brazil, this newly found mammal has only 24 teeth per jaw where as the typical ones are reported to have 25 or 29. However, despite the excitement behind the new discovery, it seems the river dolphins are already under threat of extinction.

River dolphins are relatively rare. Of the four river dolphin species currently recognized, three are classified from vulnerable to critically endangered by IUCN. Even this species of dolphins is requested to categorize in the vulnerable section.

Human interference in the natural habitat of water and forests has endangered a lot of species. The World Wildlife Fund attributes the decline in dolphin populations over the last several decades to human interference in their habitats, such as dam-building and fishing nets.