Indus River Dolphin

Platanista minor

Conservation Status

Data Deficient

Mammalia · Cetacea · Platanistidae

About

The Indus river dolphin is a species of freshwater dolphin in the family Platanistidae. It is endemic to the rivers of the Indus basin in Pakistan and northwestern India. This dolphin was the first discovered side-swimming cetacean. In Pakistan, it occurs in the Indus river, patchily distributed in five small sub-populations that are separated by irrigation barrages. In India, a very small isolated population at a very high risk of extinction lives in the Beas river.

Fun Fact

The oldest recorded animal was a 28-year-old male 199 cm (78 in) in length.

Quick Facts

Habitat

Occurs in the Indus River system.

Diet

Prey availability, and accidental entangling in fishing nets causes fatalities.

Lifespan

28 years

Threats

Habitat Change
Human Disturbance

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

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