🐬
🏷️
Classification
Mammal
🍽️
Diet
Carnivore
⏱️
Lifespan
20–30 years
⚖️
Weight
50–90 kg
Population Trend
📉Decreasing
Description
A freshwater dolphin endemic to the Ganges and Brahmaputra river systems, one of the most endangered cetaceans.
Habitat
🌿 river🌿 estuary🌿 flooded plain
Extended Data
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Cetacea
Family
Platanistidae
Genus
Platanista
Fun Facts
1
They are functionally blind and navigate using echolocation in murky river water.
2
Ganges river dolphins swim on their side to feel the river bottom with their flipper.
3
They are also called 'susu' — a name derived from the sound of their breathing.
4
Only about 1,200-1,800 remain in the wild across India and Bangladesh.
5
They are India's national aquatic animal.