The Amazon River and its lush, beautiful forest are surely among the most amazing ecosystems in the world. The ever-present, primordial cacophony that echoed in my ears as I stood breathlessly watching saddle-backed tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis) leap from tree to tree is what I will forever crave to hear again. As a biology student, I have always read about the "great biodiversity" of the neotropics, as the importance of habitat conservation and protection is beaten into my brain at every turn. Of course, as a naturalist, I agree with the prevailing opinion of today that our world is in dire need of help. However, I couldn't appreciate the true beauty and magic of the tropical Amazon until I was literally swimming in the middle of it, breathing in the wet, fragrant air and seeing the misting, puffing backs of the pink river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) circling around me.

As a lover of all cetaceans, I was very interested in learning more about the dolphins of the Amazon River, but it was a surprise to find that the pink river dolphins (also

Krichner, John. A Neotropical Companion. Princeton University Press;

Morell, Virginia. "Looking for Big Pink." International Wildlife. 26-31,

Ritchie, Tom. "Pink Dolphins Could Lose Their Charm: Superstitions Help

The tucuxi in any form, however, is much smaller than the boto, which, in fact, looks anything but graceful with its chubby body, small eyes, elongated beak, and bulbous forehead or "melon." The boto also has a flexible neck due to unfused neck vertebrae (Morell 29), adding to its seemingly awkward design; it is also the world's largest freshwater dolphin, as the males reach lengths of three meters and weights of 16o kilograms (Henningsen and Hempel 12). The most distinguishing characteristic, of course, is the pink hue that the botos are famous for; the tucuxis are dark grey.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Henningsen Hempel, Amazon River, Inia Sotalia, Atlantic Ocean, Sotalia Inia, Tucuxis Sotalia, River Sotalia, amazon river, South American, Sea Frontiers, International Wildlife, river dolphins, sotalia fluviatilis, morell 29, et al, amazon river dolphins, henningsen hempel, pink river dolphins, flooded forest, marine form, borobia et, choice prey, borobia et al, dolphins amazon river,
Approximate Word count = 1080
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)