These may help make up for reduced eyesight. The mouth of Amazon river dolphins is fairly straight with a slight upturn at the corners. They have heterodont dentition, with conical front teeth and molar-like rear teeth. They eat a wide variety of benthic organisms, including catfish. Heavily armored fish and crustaceans can be crushed with the rear teeth.
Echolocation is probably a major tool in food-finding and navigation.
Botos have the ability to change the shape of their melons, like beluga whales, from flat to bulbous. This is possible because their cervical vertebrae are unfused, as in many ancestral dolphin species. Besides turning their necks, botos can paddle one flipper forward while paddling the other backwards. When prey is scattered, as in high-water seasons, botos are generally seen in singles or pairs. During low-water seasons, when prey is more concentrated, botos congregate in groups of about 15.