‘Mythical’ Pink Dolphins of the Amazon River Are Real, but Rare; Here’s How You Can Find Them If you spend much time watching underwater nature documentaries, you might come to know the dolphin as an incredibly intelligent ocean mammal—it’s demeanor, often playful; it’s skin, typically gray. However, one species of dolphin stands out from the norm. Rather than dwelling in the saltwater of the ocean, this dolphin resides in freshwater rivers; rather than having gray skin, this dolphin’s skin is an incredible pinkish hue. Meet the Amazon river dolphin. (Coulanges/Shutterstock) This incredible freshwater mammal is technically classified as a toothed whale, though it’s prolonged snout is distinctly dolphin-like. It is the largest species of river dolphin, and it develops pink skin as it approaches adulthood, making it a colorful addition to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins.