''Inia'' is a genus of river dolphins from

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

containing one to four species.

Taxonomy

The genus was described by Alcide d'Orbigny in 1834 when ''Delphinus geoffrensis'', described by Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville in 1817, was recognized to be a unique taxon. A 1998 classification listed a single species, ''Inia geoffrensis'', in the genus ''Inia'', with three recognized

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

. Most of the scientific community accepted this single species classification, as does the

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

. As of 2016 the Committee on Taxonomy of the Society for Marine Mammalogy considers the genus ''Inia'' to contain one species with only two subspecies: the Bolivian (''I. g. boliviensis'') and the Amazon (''I. g. geoffrensis)'' subspecies. In 2014, the population in the Araguaia- Tocantins basin was proposed to define an additional species, ''Inia araguaiaensis'', but this remains debated. The

American Society of Mammalogists The American Society of Mammalogists (ASM) was founded in 1919. Its primary purpose is to encourage the study of mammals, and professions studying them. There are over 4,500 members of this society, and they are primarily professional scientists ...

recognizes the highest number of species at four, although this is only tentative, pending further studies which could either confirm or deny the classification. American Society of Mammalogists Classification Genus ''Inia'' * Species ''

Inia araguaiaensis The Araguaian river dolphin or Araguaian boto (''Inia araguaiaensis'') is a South American river dolphin population native to the Araguaia–Tocantins basin of Brazil. Discovery and species recognition The recognition of ''I. araguaiaensis'' ...

'' –

Araguaian river dolphin The Araguaian river dolphin or Araguaian boto (''Inia araguaiaensis'') is a South American river dolphin population native to the Araguaia–Tocantins basin of Brazil. Discovery and species recognition The recognition of ''I. araguaiaensis'' ...

* Species '' Inia boliviensis'' – Bolivian river dolphin * Species ''

Inia geoffrensis The Amazon river dolphin (''Inia geoffrensis''), also known as the boto, bufeo or pink river dolphin, is a species of toothed whale classified in the family Iniidae. Three subspecies are currently recognized: ''I. g. geoffrensis'' (Amazon rive ...

'' – Amazon river dolphin * Species '' Inia humboldtiana'' – Orinoco river dolphin IUCN Classification Genus ''Inia'' * Species ''

'' – Amazon river dolphin ** Amazon Subspecies ''I. g. geoffrensis'' ** Bolivian Subspecies '' I. g. boliviensis'' ** Orinoco Subspecies ''I. g. humboldtiana'' Society For Marine Mammalogy Classification * Genus ''Inia'' ** Species ''

'' – Amazon river dolphin *** Amazon Subspecies ''I. g. geoffrensis'' *** Bolivian Subspecies ''I. g. boliviensis''

References

;General references * * Juliet Clutton-Brock (2000). Mammals, 381 pages. {{Taxonbar, from=Q2896224 River dolphins Cetacean genera Mammals of South America Mammals described in 1834 Taxa named by Alcide d'Orbigny pl:Inia sk:Inia