Amazon River dolphin love fetishes: From folklore to molecular forensics.

The article discusses a study on fetishes supposedly derived from the Amazon river dolphin Inia geoffrensis, or boto. An analysis of the dolphin body parts, such as the eyes and genitalia, sold as fetishes in Amazon markets revealed that they are not derived from the real boto. Instead, they are said to have been derived from the marine species Sotalia guianensis, which implies that boto fetishes were only exported to the Amazon from North Brazil. Although the indigenous people of the Amazon are said to have a strong tradition of love magic, their amulets and preparations are said to be botanical- and animal-based.