Platanista gangetica gangetica, Ganges River Dolphin [+]

Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Cetacea Family Platanistidae Genus Platanista species: Platanista gangetica gangetica [+ITIS +WoRMS]

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Description & Behavior

Ganges river dolphins, Platanista gangetica gangetica (Roxburgh, 1801), aka susu, measure 2.3-2.6 m in length with females typically larger than males. They are dark gray to black in color with lighter coloring on the ventral sides. The unnotched tail fluke measures 46 cm from tip to tip. They have a beak that measures 18-21 cm with 28-29 teeth on either side of the jaw, and a steeply sloped forehead. They have a dorsal fin, however it is ridge-like and not very pronounced. The pectoral fins are squared instead of tapered on the ends. They do not have neck mobility, and, lacking a lens, their eyesight is very poor incapable of forming images on the retina. This is likely due to the muddy waters they inhabit making acute eyesight unnecessary. They are able to detect light and locate prey using echolocation.

Although schools of 3-10 individuals have been observed, Ganges river dolphins are not classified as gregarious as they are most commonly found alone.

The life span of the Ganges river dolphin is thought to be about 26 years.

World Range & Habitat

Ganges river dolphins, Platanista gangetica gangetica, are found in the muddy river waters of India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangledesh in the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Meghna, Karnaphuli, and Hoogli river systems. This freshwater species may migrate to tidal waters during the rainy season, and during the dry season they migrate away from areas where temperatures and/or salinity rise significantly.

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Feeding Behavior (Ecology)

Ganges river dolphins, Platanista gangetica gangetica, feed on shrimp and fish.

Life History

Ganges river dolphins, Platanista gangetica gangetica, reach sexual maturity at about 10 years. In general, calving takes place between October and March following a gestation period of 8-9 months. Females nurse for up to 12 months.

Conservation Status/Additional Comments

The Ganges river dolphin, Platanista gangetica gangetica, is listed as CITES-Appendix I and IUCN-Vulnerable. They are hunted both for their meat and oil. They are also threatened by entanglement in fishing gear during migrations and by dams that block the Ganges river dolphin from their migration routes.