A South Asian river dolphin was spotted in the Brahmaputra river in northern India. [22], The dense pigmentation in the skin overlying the eye prevents light from reaching the retina from any entrance except for a pinhole sphincter-like structure. Biswas, S., S. Boruah. The South Asian river dolphin is split into two subspecies, the Ganges river dolphin and the Indus river dolphin. 1993. [36], On the occasion of the 74th Independence Day, 15 August 2020, the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced 'Project Dolphin' to boost conservation of both river and oceanic dolphins.[37]. Its range has contracted by about 80% since 1870. The combination of these traits makes the eye incapable of forming clear images on the retina and renders the dolphin effectively blind. The most serious threat to South Asian river dolphins comes from human activities. A world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free. Entanglement in fishing nets as bycatch can cause significant damage to local populations, and individuals are taken each year by hunters; their oil and meat are used as a liniment, as an aphrodisiac, and as bait for catfish. South Asian river dolphins share their river habitats with crocodiles (gharials), freshwater turtles and wetland birds. The Ganges river dolphin is primarily found in the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers and their tributaries in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, while the Indus river dolphin is now found only in the main channel of the Indus R… Poisoning of the water supply from industrial and agricultural chemicals may have also be a contributing factor towards population decline, as these chemicals are biomagnified in the bodies of the dolphins. [14] The body is a brownish color and stocky at the middle. Their long, thin snouts are designed for quick snapping actions to capture fast prey. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. ENDANGERED (EN) – A taxon is Endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Endangered (see Section V), and it is therefore considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. [21] However, information is limited on how extensively vocalization is used between individuals. Its eye lacks a lens and has evolved a flat cornea. The Indus river dolphin has been named the National Mammal of Pakistan. Ganges river dolphins, Platanista gangetica gangetica, are listed as Endangered A2abcde by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and CITES-Appendix I. Both species regularly produce frequencies lower than 15 kHz and the maximum frequency is thought to fall between 15 and 60 kHz. They can be found in rivers flowing all the way from the foothills of the Himalayas downstream to the Bay of Bengal. Ecology of the River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) in the Upper Brahmaputra. This adaptation aids them to find prey in the murky water by using one flipper that helps feel for prey. Melville’s Whale Was a Warning We Failed to Heed, Amanda Jelena Radoman: Manatees being fed sweet potatoes… while looking like sweet potatoes, Trying to Make Sense of This Overwhelming World. They are also threatened by entanglement in fishing gear during migrations and by dams that block the Ganges river dolphin from their migration routes. [5] The Indus river dolphin has been named as the National Mammal of Pakistan. The Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington and London, p 360. Feeding: The diet includes shrimp, catfish, carp, and gobies. Sexual maturity is attained at 5.5 ft (1.7 m) in males, 5.5 to 6.5 ft (1.7 to 2 m) in females. South Asian dolphins are not gregarious and prefer to spend time singly. Description & Behavior. The South Asian river dolphin is split into two subspecies, the Ganges river dolphin and the Indus river dolphin. The South Asian river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is an endangered freshwater or river dolphin found in the region of Indian subcontinent, which is split into two subspecies, the Ganges river dolphin (P. g. gangetica, ~3,500 individuals) and the Indus river dolphin (P. g. minor, ~1,500 individuals). [13][26] A small subpopulation may still be found on the Ghaghara River, but requires verification. The Indus river dolphin has been named the National Mammal of Pakistan. They are able to turn their heads sweeping back and forth in a scanning motion, while using echolocation to navigate and search for prey. Ganges river dolphins, P. gangetica gangetica, use their echolocation abilities combined with their highly toothed, long snouts to feed on shrimp and fish. Teeth: About 26 to 37 small, thin teeth appear in each side of the upper and lower jaws, increasing in size from back to front. Unlike Oceanic dolphins, river dolphins have a very thin or no blubber. This is likely due to the muddy waters they inhabit making acute eyesight unnecessary. Distribution: Ganges River dolphins are found throughout most of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Karnaphuli rivers of India and Bangladesh. Lifespan is estimated at up to 30 years. The Indus River dolphin is now limited to a 700 km stretch of the Indus mainstream which is about one-fifth of their historical range. Their long, thin snouts are designed for quick snapping actions to capture fast prey. The oldest recorded animal was a 28-year-old male, 199 cm in length. Supporting Foundations, A Complete Guide to Whales, Dolphins And Porpoises, List of Species and Potential Sub-Species. [12] The earliest fossil identified as belonging to the species is only 12,000 years old.[1]. Being mammals, Ganges river dolphins cannot breathe in the water and must surface every 30-120 seconds.
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