Indus River Dolphin

Platanista minor

Picture is property of Cetacea.org

FIELD MARKS:

dolphinlike
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to 2.5m
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short stubby dorsal fin
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long, distinct beak
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Fresh water habitat

Description

The Indus River dolphin weighs about 80 - 90 kg (180 - 200 lb). Maximum length is about: Females: up to 2.5 m (8.2'); males: up to 2.0 m (6.6').

Habitat

Its original habitat included the Indus River from the Himalayan foothills to the estuarine portion of the river leading into the Arabian Sea.

Range

The Indus River dolphin was apparently formerly common and distributed throughout the Indus River system in Pakistan, including the main tributaries. Beginning in the 1930's, numerous dams and barrages were constructed in the Indus. This split the dolphin's population into small groups, degraded its habitat and impeded migration. As a result, by the 1970's the abundance and distribution of the Indus River dolphin had significantly declined, and most of the remaining population was concentrated between two of the barrages, the Sukkur and Guddu barrages in Sind Province. The Sind government designated that stretch of the river as a dolphin reserve. Its population has apparently increased there, while few of the dolphins remain elsewhere.

Food

Prawns as well as fish such as gobies, catfish and carp comprise the major portion of its diet. It must rely on echolocation to find and capture its prey since it is essentially blind. This is probably because the water it lives in is so silty that vision would not be effective, and its eyes have degenerated.

Comments

Also known as Bhulan, Indus Susu, or Indus Dolphin.

They reach maturity at about 10 years. Females have a gestation period of 10 - 11 months. The birth season extends from mid April through May. Females have 1 calf approximately every 2 years. Calves may be weaned by the time they are 1 year old. The predicted lifespan is probably at least 28 years (similar to the Ganges dolphin). Current population dynamics indicate about twice as many males as females in the population. This is not a good situation as it tends to slow population growth.

The Indus River dolphin comes to the surface to breathe about every 30 - 120 seconds. It swims on its side and uses echolocation to orient itself, since it is almost blind. It also uses echolocation to find food, as well as using its snout to probe for food in the bottom mud.

When the Indus was a free-flowing river, the Indus River dolphin would migrate upstream into the smaller tributaries during the monsoon rains and migrate downstream to the main channels in the dry season.

Credits

Much of the information found here has been adapted from the following sources:

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