These incredible images show an extremely rare pink dolphin as it leaps out of an Amazonian river.
The pink mammal, which usually hides deep in the Rio Negro river – a tributary of the Amazon – was spotted leaping out of the water.
Weighing in at 21 stone the creature, known as an Amazon Pink River Dolphin, looked impressively agile as it rose above the waves.
The extremely rare PINK dolphin was photographed leaping out of the Amazonian water
The pictures were taken by Michel Watson, a tourist. The 66-year-old, from France, managed to capture several images of the elusive freshwater dolphin before it disappeared back into the water along with a friend.
He said it was the first time he had seen the mysterious mammal. He added: ‘I was thrilled when I saw it. I was so happy because they don’t usually jump a lot and don’t normally play like the common marine dolphin so it was quite unusual.
‘I believe their skin is thinner than that of a normal dolphin so the blood vessels are just under the skin which gives it the pink colour. They sort of look like pigs with long beaks.’
The Amazon Pink River Dolphin is the largest freshwater dolphin in the world and can grow up to nine feet long.
The pink creature usually hides deep in the Rio Negro river – a tributary of the Amazon
The Amazon Pink River Dolphin looked impressively agile as it rose above the waves
Scientists believe the coloration is due in part to the dolphin’s diet of crabs and shell fish
Despite being bright pink, the dolphin is unable to appreciate colour as it has very poor vision
The endangered aquatic mammals rely on an internal sonar system to manoeuvre under water and find food
Historically the dolphin has been spared by humans because of the belief that it has special powers
Despite being bright pink, the dolphin is unable to appreciate colour as it has very poor vision and is practically blind.
The potentially endangered aquatic mammals rely on an internal sonar system to manoeuvre under water and find food.
Historically, the Amazon Pink River Dolphin, also know as the Boto, has been spared by humans because of the belief that it has special powers.
However, today they are increasingly viewed by fishermen as an unwanted competitor for fish and are also at risk of getting tangled up in fishing nets.
Researchers believe that they are declining at a rate of 10 per cent each year.
Scientists do not know exactly know why the dolphins are pink. However, they believe that the coloration is due in part to the dolphin’s diet of crabs and shell fish as well as the presence of a large number of blood capillaries near the surface of the dolphin’s skin.
The unique animals are known to flush an even brighter shade of pink when they are excited.
