Taxon name
Platanista gangetica
(Roxburgh, 1801)
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Platanista gangetica
(Roxburgh, 1801)
Common name(s)
Ganges River Dolphin, Ganges Dolphin, Blind River Dolphin, South Asian River Dolphin, Shushuk, Shushu, Susu, Huchchum, Hurchum, Hush, Shush, Shishu Mach
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Mammals
Species authority
(Roxburgh, 1801)
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
The Indus and Ganges populations were long regarded as identical until Pilleri and Gihr (1971) divided them into two species (P. gangetica and P. minor), but Kasuya (1972) reduced the two taxa to subspecies of a single species (P. gangetica). The two subs
Platanista gangetica (Roxburgh, 1801); Platanista minor Owen, 1853
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
Bangladesh
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
Throughout the distribution range, this species is facing a high risk of human impact, destruction of natural forests and daming of upper reaches of all trans-boundary rivers in the neighbouring countries that is causing massive siltation in all floodplain rivers. There has been a dramatic decline in the Extent of Occurrence, as well as habitat quality, especially in the Ganges (IWC, 2000) and Brahmaputra River basins, which is related to the construction of barrages in the upstream countries (M A R Khan pers. comm). The species has also disappeared from most of the tributaries of GangesBrahmaputra-Meghna river systems due to siltation, insufficient water flow. So, it is now restricted to a few larger channels (pers. obs.). It is assuming that at least 30% decline of population has occurred during last three generations with the decline in its habitat and incidental catch in drag net. Based on the ongoing threats, fragmentation of the population, the species has been assessed as Vulnerable.
Assessment details
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
Md. Zahangir Alom
Criteria system used
IUCN
Reference for methods given
IUCN (2012) IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1. Second edition. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iv + 32pp; IUCN (2012) Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
URL (link) of redlist assessment or publication
http://iucnredlistbd.org/
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
It occurs in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and possibly Sikkim and Bhutan (Culik 2011, Smith and Braulik 2012). This subspecies (P. g. gangetica) occurs in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna, and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of the South Asian subcontinent, from the deltas upstream to where they are blocked by rocky barriers, shallow water, fast currents, dams, or barrages (Smith and Braulik 2012). The subspecies P. g. minor is endemic to the rivers of the lower Indus basin in Pakistan (Culik 2011). All major rivers of Bangladesh.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes, in the publication/on website
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
Platanista gangetica lives exclusively in freshwater river system (Ahmed 2009, Culik, 2011, Khan 1985, 1987, Smith et al. 2009) and the estuaries where salinity level is low. Also during monsoon quite a good number visits the northern regions of the Sundarbans (Khan 1985, 1987 and M. A. R. Khan pers. comm). It occurs in all connected rivers and tributaries of Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna system, and Karnaphuli-Sangu river system in southern Bangladesh. They also present in seasonally flooded and lowlands. In general, Platanista gangetica gangetica mostly found in deep pools in river meanders and confluences. In the water ways of Bangladesh Sundarbans, their distribution is conditionally dependent on low salinity, high turbidity and moderate depth during both low and high freshwater flow (Smith et al. 2009).
History
Endangered in Bangladesh (IUCN Bangladesh 2000).
Publication
IUCN Bangladesh. 2015. Red List of Bangladesh Volume 2: Mammals. IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Bangladesh Country Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh, pp. xvi+232
