Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 2.17
Identifying characters of dolphins distributed in Indian coastal waters
Species
Description
Distribution
Food habits
Status
Orcaella
brevirostris
(Irrawaddy
dolphin)
It is of the size of Ganges river dolphin with
bulging forehead, downwardly pointed mouth,
everted lips, dorsal n and ellipsoid
This species is mostly found along the coastal
waters from East coast of India through
Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia to northern
Australia; particularly found in larger rivers
such as Ganga, Krishna, Irrawaddy and
Mekong (Marsh et al.
1989
).
In India, this species is found in
Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Chilika
Lake (Odisha) and Hooghly river (West
Bengal)
Primarily takes
shes, also
crustaceans
and
cephalopods
Protected from killing under
Schedule II of Indian Wildlife
(Protection) Act and from
international trade under Appendix
II of CITES
ippers.
Body bluish grey above, paler below, total
length 2.0
fl
2.75 m; newborn about 0.85 m,
maximum age around 30 years, tail is
horizontally
-
fl
attened and notched in the
middle
Platanista
gangetica
(Gangetic
dolphin)
It is freshwater species weighing up to 90 kg.
Its size varies between 2.0 m and 2.5 m, males
are smaller than females. Maximum age is
about 28 years. Females give birth within
October to March with a peak in December and
January after a gestation period of 1 year
It is typically found in freshwater zones along
the Gangetic stretch of India. It is also found in
the Brahmaputra, Karnaphuli and Meghna river
from the foot of the Himalayas downstream to
the upper limits of the tidal zone in India
Feeds mainly
on
shes and
aquatic
invertebrates
It is included in IUCN Red Data
Book, Appendix 1 of CITES and
also in the Schedule 1 of Indian
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
