To the rear and overhead of the viewer, An Amazonian motif of tropical plants blend with a huge mural to encompass the visitor in the native world of the exhibit specimans, the Amazon of Peru. Within the center of this setting, swim the unusual animals which are as primitive as the scene which surrounds them. Generally, the White Amazon River Porpoise is known as Inia geoffrensis . In its native water or Iquitos, Peru it is called bufeo blanco or bufeo rojos, depending on size or color. The bufeo's coloration apparently varies with age.
Most young animals are dark slate-gray above and slightly lighter below.
The lower sides and belly are pinkish. The light tone moves up the sides as the animal gets older until it is completely light or pinkish with a limited area of dark tone remaining about its breathing aperture, the blowhole, at the top of its head. Generally, these porpoises swim at top speeds of one or two miles per hour but may attain eight to ten miles per hour. Bottlenosed porpoises have been clocked at speeds in excess of 30 miles per hour and usually swim at about four and one-half miles per hour. The well developed flippers of the Inia seem to correlate with their slow swimming activities.