Ganges River Dolphin
Platanista gangetica
- Class
- Mammal
- Rarity
- Epic
- Observations
- 140
- Most observed in
- 🇮🇳 India
- Conservation
- Endangered
Description
The Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is a freshwater dolphin in the family Platanistidae. It lives in the Ganges and related rivers of South Asia, namely in the countries of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. It is also known by the names susu and shihu (Assamese: শিহু) in Assam shushuk (Bengali: শুশুক) in West Bengal and Bangladesh and Uttum (Chittagonian: উত্তুম) in Chittagong region. The Ganges river dolphin has been recognized by the Government of India as its National Aquatic Animal and is the official animal of the Indian city of Guwahati. Its first occurrence, within the Hooghly River, was documented by William Roxburgh.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Ganges river dolphin”.