PHYLUM: Chordata
CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Cetacea
FAMILY: Platanistidae
GENUS: Platanista
SPECIES: gangetica
TOOTHED or TOOTHLESS (BALEEN): Toothed
FRESHWATER, SALTERWATER or BRACKISH: Freshwater
HABITAT: Indus river, Ganges River and its branches.
LENGTH (maximum): 7-8’3 Ft
WEIGHT (maximum): 185 lbs
RELATIVE SPECIES: Humpback Dolphin and other river dolphins
OTHER NAMES: Susu, Bhulan, South Asian River Dolphin
NEIGHBORING SPECIES: Irrawady Dolphin
PREDATORS: Humans
THREATS: Hunting, accidental catch, pollution, ship strikes, habitat degradation, becoming trapped in river canals
DIET: Shrimp and small fish
MANNER OF FEEDING: Pairs of dolphins work together to forage in the river sediment. Long beaks for probing sediment.
BEHAVIOR: Swim on their sides, nodding their heads and using echolocation constantly. Very active, occasionally leap out of the water. Usually solitary, although they can be found in small groups. Make a sneezing noise when surfacing to breathe.
REPRODUCTION: Become sexually mature from 6-10 years old. Mothers give birth year round. Calving lasts for up to a year.
LIFE SPAN: 30 Years
COOL/GROSS/WEIRD:
- Blind, but my be able to see light and determine direction. Extremely tiny eyes.
- Highly endangered.
- Indus and Ganges dolphins are subspecies.
- Distinguishable external ears.
SOURCES:
- Knopf, Alfred A. Guide to Marine Mammals of the World.Random House. 2002
- http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/cetaceans/indusriverdolphin.htm
-TSF-
