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About

South Asian river dolphins behave differently than what you might expect. Often they travel alone and only surface for a quick breath, unlike more well-known species of dolphins who travel in large packs and jump out of the water. The muddy, sediment-filled waterways likely caused the South Asian river dolphin eyes to become smaller, which is a reason for their poor vision. 

The South Asian river dolphins also differ physically than more well-known species. They do not have a prominent dorsal fin, but a more rounded dorsal fin and a long, narrow snout with razor sharp teeth. The South Asian river dolphins also have more neck-movement capabilities because of their lack of fused neck vertebrae. They are top predators in their ecosystems and their diet consists mainly of catfish and carp, though they eat many other kinds of fish as well.  They play a big role in keeping fish populations proportional.

South Asian River Dolphins currently reside in rivers and marsh in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Some river systems no longer connect unless there is a strong rain season, so the result is a set of subspecies, the Ganges and the Indus. With the dry seasons becoming longer and more frequent with environmental changes, some South Asian dolphins end up in small pools of water. The seasonal pools or lakes often cause more conflict with fisherman. The current population is estimated at less than 5,000 individuals, however on the IUCN Red List the species population trend is listed as unknown. The South Asian River Dolphin was ranked endangered by the IUCN Red List in 2017 and the species population is extremely fractured geographically.
Indus Dolphin:
-estimated less than 2,000 individuals
-no longer hunted locally for food
Ganges Dolphin:
-estimated 3,526 individuals
-hunted for food and oil extraction
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