UPSC Prelims 2015 Question:

Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India ?

Explanation:

• The Ganges river dolphin was officially discovered in 1801. It acquired the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. But the species is extinct from most of its early distribution ranges. The Ganges river dolphin is important because it is a reliable indicator of the health of the entire river ecosystem. The government of India declared it the National Aquatic Animal in 2009.
  
  
• The Ganges river dolphin can only live in freshwater and is essentially blind. They hunt by emitting ultrasonic sounds, which bounces off of fish and other prey, enabling them to “see” an image in their mind. They are frequently found alone or in small groups, and generally a mother and calf travel together. Calves are chocolate brown at birth and then have gray-brown smooth, hairless skin as adults. Females are larger than males and give birth once every two to three years to only one calf.
  
  

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.

Subject: Environment | Miscellaneous(env