Pictures and facts about the Indus river dolphin

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Indus river dolphin

Order : Cetacea
Suborder : Odontoceti
Family : Platanistidae
Species : Platanista minor

The Indus River dolphin (Platanista minor) is listed as 'endangered', experts/researchers think that there are still (give or take) 1,100 of them. Still, for the record, it is the 2nd most threatened freshwater dolphin, and the decline over the years could be attributed to various causes. Just to mention a few: poaching, water pollution, destruction of their natural habitat and those getting stranded. When the irrigation system of the Indus commenced, the dramatic decline of these dolphins began.

Indus River dolphins are recognized by the long beak, circular belly, stocky physique, tiny dorsal fin and the big flippers...and speaking of the eyes, they are called "blind river dolphins", their eyes do not have a lense, yet, just like many of their relatives, echolocation helps them position themselves. (Echolocation is the sound sensory process that makes them capable of locating prey even in the mud).

An Indus River dolphin navigates on one side, they could even move in shallow water, something like 30 centimeters deep. In moving as such, this is how they go: after about half to a full minute, when the Indus River dolphin is running out of breath, it breaks out of the surface. It rotates (upright) to get in oxygen, rotate again by ninety degrees and then return under the surface (a pretty elaborate performance, even for dolphins).

Facts about the Indus river dolphin

Indus River Dolphins are grey-brown in colour, sometimes with a pinkish belly, and measure between 1.

Recognition at sea: The Indus River Dolphin is the only cetacean to inhabit the Indus river.

Physical description: The Ganges and Indus River Dolphins are essentially identical in appearance. (Full text)

Freshwater Dolphins:The Bulhan or Indus River dolphin (Platanista minor) is one of four freshwater dolphins in the world and is found only in the River Indus in Pakistan. (Full text)

USFWS Refuges on which the Indus River dolphin is reported. (Full text)

[edit] Wildlife The Indus River Dolphin, is a sub-species of Dolphins found only in the Indus River. (Full text)

[edit] Physical description The Ganges and Indus River Dolphins are essentially identical in appearance. (Full text)

© WWF / Canon   The Indus River Dolphin ( Platanista minor ) is one of the world's rarest mammal and most endangered cetaceans. (Full text)

*** The Indus River dolphin is one of the world's rarest mammals. (Full text)

The Ganges and Indus River Dolphins are essentially identical in appearance. (Full text)

Indus River Dolphin: Introduction The Indus River Dolphin ( Platanista minor) is one of the world's rarest mammal and most endangered cetaceans. (Full text)

The Indus River dolphin (Platanista minor) is one of the world's rarest mammals and the second most endangered freshwater river dolphin. (Full text)

The Indus River dolphin is one of four river dolphin species and subspecies in the world that spend all their lives in freshwater. (Full text)

The Indus River dolphin is one of the 'world's rarest mammals' and most endangered cetaceans. (Full text)

Indus River Dolphin Skull - The Indus river dolphin is native to a small region of the Indus river system of Pakistan. (Full text)

Conservation Status: The Indus River Dolphin is endangered in the wild (Full text)

Habitat and Distribution: The Indus River Dolphin is the only cetacean to inhabit the Indus river. (Full text)