Ganges and Indus Dolphin: Platanistidae

These dolphins live in freshwater rivers from sea level to an elevation of 820 feet (250 meters). They can be found in clear, swift-moving water or muddy, cloudy water. They are often found where streams feed into the main river or where there are eddies, which are currents in the water that run opposite the main current. These river dolphins prefer living in water 10 to 30 feet deep (3 to 9 meters), but they are able to live in water as shallow as 3 feet (1 meter). They can survive a wide range of water temperatures, from about 46 to 91°F (8 to 33°C).

Scientists once thought the Ganges river dolphin and the Indus river dolphin were two separate species. But genetic testing shows there is just one species, the Ganges and Indus river dolphin. (Illustration by Patricia Ferrer. Reproduced by permission.)