[14] They are unique among cetaceans in that they swim on their sides. The South Asian river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is a freshwater or river dolphin found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. These include bhulan (Urdu and Sindhi); Sus and Swongsu (Nepali); Susu, Soonse and Sunsar (Hindi); Hiho and Shihu (Assamese); and Shusshuk, Foomach and Sishumaach (Bengali). Although they cannot see images as their eyes lack lenses to focus, they do have an optic nerve and retina and so can detect light and dark. Their teeth are used as a clamp rather than a chewing mechanism. [35], On 31 December 2020, a dead adult dolphin was found at the Sharda canal in the Pratapgarh district in India. Due to inadequate research and development, adequate information on the dolphin is lacking. They can be easily identified by their long snout, a particular characteristic of all river dolphins. Your gifts help us take action for whales and dolphins. Each pregnancy lasts about a year and the calves stay with their mothers for a year before they are weaned. The latest analyses of mitochondrial DNA of the two populations did not display the variances needed to support their classification as separate species. The South Asian river dolphin is divided into two subspecies, one inhabiting the Indus River … Support WDC by shopping for yourself or a friend. [33] It is protected under the Indian Wildlife Act, although these legislations require stricter enforcement. [25] Given the dolphin's blindness, it produces an ultrasonic sound that is echoed off other fish and water species, allowing it to identify prey. The Ganges subspecies may take birds and turtles. These dolphins never see the ocean, and are a far cry from the popular image of a friendly, leaping marine variety [36], Both subspecies have been adversely affected by human use of river systems in South Asia. South Asian River dolphins are not demonstrative or acrobatic; they usually surface quickly and unobtrusively although they do sometimes stick their snout right out of the water. [39], 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. The flippers and tail are thin and large in relation to the body size, which is about 2-2.2 meters in males and 2.4–2.6 m in females. It is split into two subspecies, the Ganges river dolphin (P. g. gangetica) and Indus river dolphin (P. g. minor). A world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free. The South Asian river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is an endangered freshwater or river dolphin found in the region of the 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). They are only found in the freshwater river systems of South Asia. This ancestor is thought to have been a marine Platanistid inhabiting the epi-continental seas in South Asia during the sea level rises in the middle Miocene. Have you ever heard about the South Asian river dolphin? More tragically, the last surviving dolphins are separated into three subpopulations and isolated from each other by barrages and this isolation makes them more vulnerable to other threats. Migration: During summer, Ganges River dolphins travel down the Hoogly River to Calcutta anddown the Pusser River to Chalna. Because of the sound it produces when breathing, the animal is popularly referred to as the susu. South Asian river dolphins have many local names throughout the countries where they live. [11] However, a 2021 study re-analyzed the two populations and found significant genetic divergence and major differences in the structure of their skulls; this, when combined with the fact that the Ganges and Indus basins had not been contiguous for over 40 million years, led to the conclusion that both were indeed distinct species. Compared to other river dolphins, South Asian river dolphins have smaller brains but the part of the brain used for acoustic functions is well developed. The Scientific Name of the South Asian River Dolphin is Platanista gangetica. [23] The Ganges river dolphin favours deep pools, eddy countercurrents located downstream of the convergence of rivers and of sharp meanders, and upstream and downstream of midchannel islands. [17] Both subspecies are listed by the IUCN as endangered on their Red List of Threatened Species. Unlike most dolphins, they have very flexible necks as their neck vertebrae are not fused. There are five extant [40], The Ganges dolphin is associated with Ganga and is occasionally the depiction of her vahana, the makara.[41]. The Indus River dolphin lives only in the Indus River, Pakistan. A video circulated on social media showing a dozen men beating the dolphin with sticks and an ax. The color of the mature freshwater dolphin is greyish brown. [3], From the 1970s until 1998, they were regarded as separate species; however, in 1998, their classification was changed from two separate species to subspecies of a single species (see taxonomy below). In the murky rivers of South Asia, there lives two species of dolphins that are almost entirely blind. This greyish-brown dolphin has an unusual looking head and face; their teeny eyes are only visible as pin-prick sized openings just above the end of their upturned mouth line. They are generally found alone or in pairs, and occasionally in small groups. Based on differences in skull structure, vertebrae, and lipid composition scientists declared the two populations as separate species in the early 1970s. Endangered South Asian river dolphins are two different species, scientists find. 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. The River Goddess. The sphincter-like structure is capable of sensing light and may be able to sense the direction from where the light was emitted. Ganges River dolphins live in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems spanning three countries; Nepal, India and Bangladesh. A stretch of the Ganges River between Sultanganj and Kahlgaon in Bihar has been declared a dolphin sanctuary and named Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary, the first such protected area. Unlike most dolphins, they have very flexible necks as their neck vertebrae are not fused. Current population trends are unclear. [17] Occasionally, individuals swim along with their beaks emerging from the water,[19] and they may "breach"; jumping partly or completely clear of the water and landing on their sides. Platanista gangetica minor, The South Asian river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is an endangered freshwater or river dolphin found in the region of the 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). [23], 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. 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 … [19], South Asian river dolphins rely on echolocation to find prey due to their poor eyesight. Ganges river dolphins once lived in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. South Asian river dolphins share their river habitats with crocodiles (gharials), freshwater turtles and wetland birds. Short-finned pilot whales are nomadic animals found around the world in … [15] The body is a brownish color and stocky at the middle. South Asian river dolphins are thought to reach sexual maturity at between 6 and10 years old. But the species is extinct from most of its early distribution ranges. A possible explanation is that several north Indian rivers such as the Sutlej and Yamuna changed their channels in ancient times while retaining their dolphin populations. South Asian River Dolphins ~ MarineBio Conservation Society The south Asian river dolphin is the only living member of the Platanistidae family and is often split into two subspecies – the Ganges River dolphin and the Indus River dolphin. These features help to concentrate nutrients and fish in the river. After two decades of research, scientists have recognised the Endangered Indus and Ganges river dolphins as separate species. [6] The Indus river dolphin has been named as the National Mammal of Pakistan. The Indus River dolphin is found in the Indus River of Pakistan. The snout thickens towards its end. River dolphins are a polyphyletic group of fully aquatic mammals that reside exclusively in freshwater or brackish water. The Uttar Pradesh government in India is propagating ancient Hindu texts in hopes of raising the community support to save the dolphins from disappearing. The prey is held in their jaws and swallowed. [22] Although its eye lacks a lens (this species is also referred to as the "blind dolphin"), the dolphin still uses its eye to locate itself. Both species regularly produce frequencies lower than 15 kHz and the maximum frequency is thought to fall between 15 and 60 kHz. Their long, thin snouts are designed for quick snapping actions to capture fast prey. Museo di storia naturale e del territorio dell'Università di Pisa, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, "Taxonomic revision of the South Asian River dolphins (Platanista): Indus and Ganges River dolphins are separate species", "Declaration of Gangetic Dolphin as National Aquatic Animal", "Gangetic river dolphin to be city animal of Guwahati", "One Species or Two? Compared to other river dolphins, South Asian river dolphins have smaller brains but the part of the brain used for acoustic functions is well developed. They comprise the extant families Platanistidae (the Indian dolphins) (Old World family), Iniidae (the Amazonian dolphins) and Pontoporiidae (the brackish dolphins) (New World families). This subspecies of river dolphin is capable of performing whistles, but rarely does so, suggesting that the whistle is a spontaneous sound and not a form of communication. Mod Idea- South Asian river Dolphin - posted in Image topics: Mod Idea- South Asian river Dolphin An absolute beauty isnt it? However, the muddy waters, or low light conditions, that P. gangetica inhabits negate the use of the little vision that remains. By supporting WDC, you can help South Asian river dolphins to live safe and free. Navigation and hunting are carried out using echolocation. The ear opening is above the eye which is unlike that of other dolphins whose ear openings are just behind the eye. Sadly, both are endangered; there are only one to two thousand Indus River dolphins and less than five thousand Ganges River dolphins left in the world. Its range has contracted by about 80% since 1870. This method is still being developed and is not heavily used due to cost and technical skill requirement. River dolphins have long, beak-like snouts with many sharp teeth. South Asian river dolphins are blind; their eyes are tiny and lack lenses. South Asian river dolphins are legally protected from hunting in all four countries they live in. [20], The species feeds on a variety of shrimp and fish, including carp and catfish. The triangular-shaped flippers are large and broad; they are squared-off at the end and have a crenulated trailing edge. [9] In 1998, the results of these studies were questioned and the classification reverted to the pre-1970 consensus of a single species containing two subspecies until the taxonomy could be resolved using modern techniques such as molecular sequencing. [22], The Ganges subspecies shows object-avoidance behavior in both the consistently heavily murky waters of its habitat and in clear water in captivity, suggesting it is capable of using echolocation effectively to navigate and forage for prey. The Ministry of Environment and Forest declared the Gangetic dolphin the national aquatic animal of India. It is found in the Yangtze River in China. The retina contains a densely packed receptor layer, a very thin bipolar and ganglion cell layer, and a tiny optic nerve (with only a few hundred optic fibers) that are sufficient for the retina to act as a light-gathering component. Dolphin is the common name of aquatic mammals within the infraorder Cetacea.The term dolphin usually refers to the extant families Delphinidae (the oceanic dolphins), Platanistidae (the Indian river dolphins), named Iniidae (the New World river dolphins), and Pontoporiidae (the brackish dolphins), and the extinct Lipotidae (baiji or Chinese river dolphin). The South Asian river dolphin, scientific name Platanista gangetica is an endangered freshwater or river dolphin discovered within the area of the Indian subcontinent, which is cut up into two subspecies, the Ganges river dolphin (P. g. gangetica, ~3,500 people) and the Indus river dolphin (P. g. minor, ~1,500 people). You can join our team and help us save whales and dolphins. The species is listed on Appendix I[34] and Appendix II[34] of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. The river dolphins are unlikely to have travelled from one river to another through the sea route, since the two estuaries are very far apart. The teeth of young animals are almost an inch long, thin and curved; however, as animals age, the teeth undergo considerable changes and in mature adults become square, bony, flat disks. A new study led by Dr Gill Braulik of the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) at the University of St Andrews has classified the river dolphins in South Asia as two separate species, the Indus river dolphin (Platanista minor, pictured above) and the Ganges river dolphin (P. gangetica). The very long, slender snout is lined with lots of sharp, pointy teeth which get longer towards the tip and are visible on the outside of the mouth. Also known as the ‘Pink River Dolphin’ or the ‘Boto’, they are not to be confused with the marine pink dolphins. [14] They migrate seasonally—downstream in colder conditions with lower water levels and upstream in warmer conditions with higher water levels.[27]. Under the Endangered Species Act, NOAA Fisheries must list threatened and endangered marine species regardless of where they are found.The Chinese river dolphin is listed as endangered under the ESA. South Asian river dolphins (Platanista gangetica) are among the most endangered of the world's cetaceans. It inhabits the fresh waters of Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. Births may take place year round, but appear to be concentrated between December to January and March to May. [4], An assessment of divergence rates in mitochondrial DNA of the two subspecies indicates that they diverged from a common ancestor around 550,000 years ago. 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. The South Asian river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is a freshwater or river dolphin found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan which is split into two subspecies, the Ganges river dolphin (P. g. gangetica) and Indus river dolphin (P. g. minor). [2] The Indus river dolphin is listed as endangered by the US government National Marine Fisheries Service under the Endangered Species Act. [8] Until the 1970s, the South Asian river dolphin was regarded as a single species. [37] Perhaps the most significant issue is the building of more than 50 dams along many rivers, causing the segregation of populations and a narrowed gene pool in which dolphins can breed. Extant river dolphins are placed in two superfamilies, Platanistoidea and Inioidea. Lifespan is estimated at up to 30 years. Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. Vicariance, Lineage Divergence and Low mtDNA Diversity in Geographically Isolated Populations of South Asian River Dolphin", The New Book of Knowledge, Grolier Incorporated, "Blind River Dolphin: First Side-Swimming Cetacean", "Some information on the growth of the Ganges dolphin with a comment on the Indus dolphin", "The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society", "The Underwater Sound of Ganges River Dolphins (, "To See or Not to See: Investigating Detectability of Ganges River Dolphins Using a Combined Visual-Acoustic Survey", "It is pollution that made Gangetic dolphins 'blind', says Uma Bharti", "Ganges River Dolphin: An Overview of Biology, Ecology, and Conservation Status in India", "How Hinduism Continues to Save Dolphins in India", "Three arrested after endangered Ganges River dolphin beaten to death in India", 10.1002/(SICI)1099-0739(199703)11:3<223::AID-AOC543>3.0.CO;2-U, "The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 74th Independence Day", Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, South Asian river dolphin: Platanista gangetica, US National Marine Fisheries Service Indus River Dolphin web page, Convention on Migratory Species page on the Ganges River Dolphin, Walker's Mammals of the World Online – Ganges River Dolphin, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) – species profile for the Ganges River dolphin, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Asian_river_dolphin&oldid=1018976593, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from ARKive, Taxonbars using multiple manual Wikidata items, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Ganges river dolphin leaping out of the water, This page was last edited on 20 April 2021, at 21:35. [18] During the monsoon, South Asian river dolphins tend to migrate to tributaries of the main river systems. A demonstrable increase in the main river population of the Indus subspecies between 1974 and 2008 may have been driven by permanent immigration from upstream tributaries, where the species no longer occurs.[2]. Distribution: Ganges River dolphins are found throughout most of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Karnaphuli rivers of India and Bangladesh. March 24, 2021. The dorsal fin is more of a low hump and the belly is rounded which gives these dolphins a stocky appearance. Being a mammal, the Ganges river dolphin cannot breathe in the water and must surface every 30–120 seconds. London. [14][28] A small subpopulation may still be found on the Ghaghara River, but requires verification. The two subspecies are geographically separate and have not interbred for many hundreds if not thousands of years. They are currently categorised as subspecies and scientists are considering the evidence that they have evolved into two species. [21][20], The species lacks a crystalline eye lens and has evolved a flat cornea. The species has a slit similar to a blowhole on the top of the head, which acts as a nostril. South Asian river dolphins are blind; their eyes are tiny and lack lenses. They tend to gather in places along the river where the best fishing spots are; in counter-current pools created near channel convergences, mid-channel islands, sharp meanders and man-made structures such as bridge pilings. South Asian river dolphin skeleton - note the strange shape of the skull: Although the whales are undeniably spectacular, the majority of cetacean species are much smaller; the sort of animals we generally refer to as "dolphins". There are two distinct subspecies of river dolphins living in the rivers of South Asia, the Indus river dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor) and the Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica). The Ganges River dolphin lives in one of the world’s most densely populated areas. The combination of these traits makes the eye incapable of forming clear images on the retina and renders the dolphin effectively blind, but the eye may still serve as a light receptor. The young dolphin is dark in color. International trade is prohibited by the listing of the South Asian river dolphin on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. [13] The earliest fossil identified as belonging to the species is only 12,000 years old.[1]. Bycatch mortality from entanglement in fishing nets is a major threat to the conservation of endangered cetacean species, including South Asian river dolphins Platanista.Bycatch mortality of Platanista (estimated at around 5% of total population size per year) is often blamed on the use of illegal fishing gears (especially gillnets), and poor law enforcement. The range of the South Asian river dolphin is predicted to continue to diminish as those living in sections of rivers isolated from others by dams and barrages disappear due to further habitat loss and climate change. Their vision is likely to have degenerated as a result of poor visibility in murky, sediment-laden river water. The Chinese river dolphin is a freshwater dolphin and one of the most endangered animals on Earth. Their teeth are visible in both the upper and lower jaws even when the mouth is closed. [38], On 20 May 2013, India's Ministry of Environment and Forests declared dolphins ‘nonhuman persons’ and as such has forbidden their captivity for entertainment purposes; keeping dolphins in captivity must satisfy certain legal prerequisites. The Ganges river dolphin can only live in freshwater and is essentially blind. This water mammal is the largest of all the other river dolphin species, and cannot survive in salt water. Singh, Vijay (1994). This article incorporates text from the ARKive fact-file ""Ganges river dolphin"" under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License and the GFDL. [29] In the past, it was to be found along 3,400 km of the Indus, its tributaries, and neighboring river systems. [16] Mature females are larger than males. They are usually encountered on their own or in loose aggregations; the dolphins do not form tight interacting groups. It has the long, pointed nose characteristic of all river dolphins. These rivers are so muddy and silted that eyesight of any kind would be useless, so over the years the Indus and Ganges River dolphins have lost their eye lenses and developed a sophisticated sonar system, also called echolocation to help them navigate in the dark rivers. Their overall range has shrunk and the remaining dolphins are divided into four subpopulations, isolated from one another by barrages. [30] An immediate danger for the Ganges subspecies in National Chambal Sanctuary is the decrease in river depth and appearance of sand bars dividing the river course into smaller segments, as irrigation has lowered water levels throughout their range. There are two subspecies of South Asian dolphins in India: the Indus river dolphin and the Gangetic river dolphin (right). The South Asian river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is an endangered freshwater or river dolphin found in the region of the 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). South Asian river dolphins are legally protected from hunting in all four countries they live in. The South Asian river dolphin has the long, pointed nose characteristic of all river dolphins. The oldest recorded animal was a 28-year-old male, 199 cm in length. Their vision is likely to have degenerated as a result of poor visibility in murky, sediment-laden river water. They are able to turn their heads sweeping back and forth in a scanning motion, while using echolocation to navigate and search for prey. [23][28], The Indus subspecies (P. g. minor) today only occurs in a 1,000-km stretch of the Indus River itself and several connecting channels between the Jinnah and Kotri barrages. The Ganges subspecies (P. g. gangetica) can be found along the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Bangladesh and India, and the Sapta Koshi and Karnali Rivers in Nepal. Other names: Ganges River dolphin or Susu; Indus River dolphin or Bhulan or Shushuk. 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. Most are related to the sound people hear when the dolphins surface to breathe. The rivers they inhabit measure from less than 10 to nearly 30 feet deep. After two decades of research, scientists have recognised the Endangered Indus and Ganges river dolphins as separate species. Together, we can: Adopt a whale and help us protect these amazing creatures. [10] Thus, at present, a single species with two subspecies is recognized in the genus Platanista, P. g. gangetica (Ganges river dolphin) and P. g. minor (Indus river dolphin). The two subspecies in the family Platanistidae, Indus, and Ganges river dolphins (P. g. minor and P. g. gangetica), are both threatened by dams and barrages, declining river flows, fisheries bycatch, and pollution. They are an informal grouping of dolphins, which itself is a paraphyletic group within the infraorder Cetacea. After around one year, juveniles are weaned and they reach sexual maturity at about 10 years of age. The South Asian river dolphin is an endangered freshwater dolphin found in the region of the Indian subcontinent. The Amazon River Dolphin is a group of dolphins that primarily dwell in the South Americas waters, especially in the Amazon river. 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 River in Pakistan and active channels connected to it between the Jinnah and Kotri barrages, and in the River Beas (a tributary of the Indus) in Punjab in India. [22] However, information is limited on how extensively vocalization is used between individuals. [30] Since the two originally inhabited river systems – between the Sukkur and Guddu barrage in Pakistan's Sind Province, and in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provinces – are not connected in any way, how they were colonized remains unknown. [32] However, the underlying surveys are temporally patchy and believed to contain uncertainty. This is a skull cast of the Indus river dolphin (left), which inhabits the Indus river in Pakistan and the Beas river in India. The Ganges river dolphin was officially discovered in 1801. This structure is controlled by a cone-shaped muscle layer that extends from the posterior eye orbit to the overlying eye skin layer. They can be found in rivers flowing all the way from the foothills of the Himalayas downstream to the Bay of Bengal. The tail flukes are also large and wide. Its teeth are visible in both the upper and lower jaws even when the mouth is closed. [17] Females gestate on average once every two years; gestation is thought to be approximately 9–10 months. 6 and10 years old. [ 1 ] echolocation is also used for population counts by using surveying... To January and March to may mature freshwater dolphin and the remaining dolphins are blind, anti-social animals spend. Can be easily identified by their long snout, a particular characteristic of all dolphins. Nutrients and fish in the Indus river dolphin is lacking among cetaceans in that they swim on their or! 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Display the variances needed to support their classification as separate species to may spend most of its early ranges! Is essentially blind separate species [ 32 ] however, information is on... Nepal and Pakistan extant the Chinese river dolphin - posted in Image topics: Idea-! Species lacks a crystalline eye lens and has evolved a flat cornea structure is controlled by a cone-shaped layer... A single species mouth is closed a friend foothills of the world ’ s most densely populated areas within infraorder! In all four countries they live in freshwater and is essentially blind identified as to! Countries where they live in freshwater and is essentially blind have very necks... Dorsal fin every 30–120 seconds 2021, three people were arrested take place year round, but requires verification of! The two subspecies are listed by the IUCN Red List of Threatened species between and10... Nearly 30 feet deep, 199 cm in length and10 years old [... Two species P. gangetica inhabits south asian river dolphin the use of the Indus river dolphin was officially in!, south asian river dolphin species lacks a crystalline eye lens and has evolved a flat cornea monsoon, South Asian river can.. [ 1 ] other dolphins whose ear openings are just behind the eye and fish, including and...