National Symbols Of India

National Aquatic Animal

Dolphins- National Aquatic Animal of India

Ganga Dolphin has been declared country’s National Aquatic Animal by the Government of India. It is one of the intermittent dolphin species whose presence is mainly in the Indian subcontinent and nearby nations. As researches found dolphins are rarest creatures and also happened to be oldest ones along with turtles, crocodiles and shark species. Dolphins usually share habitat with wetland birds, fresh water turtles and crocodiles amongst other others. In fact dolphins have been seen in various Indian rivers especially the Sacred Ganges, Chambal, Gandak and the Brahmaputra amongst others in the regions of Assam to Arunachal Pradesh and Indo-Bangla international borders respectively.

India houses only less than  2000 Ganges River dolphins today. The presence of such freshwater creature is usually seen in the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers respectively. Key features of such river dolphins are that they have huge pointed nose and are almost blind but they do best possible communication by listening sounds.

Pesticide, fishing and dames construction have caused so much dangers for the dolphins that usually face least habitat in such scenario. In various cases dolphins are killed for the purpose of having oils and their meats. Poaching practices and river pollutions have made dolphins rare animals in Indian subcontinent today.  In fact humans keep killing approximately 100 dolphins every year. Anybody killing dolphins or possessing any of its body parts are considered criminals hence prosecuted under the Indian law for the punishment.

Many initiatives have been taken under initiatives for the dolphin conservation for that Sanctuaries have been developed to protect India’s national aquatic animals. Asia’s only sanctuary to protect dolphins is the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary located in India and works for this purpose whose location is the Bihar state’s Bhagalpur District is worth noting. Out of the only few hundred Indian dolphins almost half are preserved at this sanctuary. The blind river Indian dolphins are supported and protected for that WWF-India and Aaranyak NGO work together through collaboration with the concerned government departments and officials.

Facts About Dolphins

A dolphin's forelimbs are known as 'pectoral flippers'

Anatomically equivalent dolphin forelimbs and those from rest mammals including greater level of similarities between them and humans are like the human arms. Connective tissues in the dolphins though make them more rigid within dolphins whose  bones within forelimbs are deliberately shortened. The steer and modulate speed through the pectoral flippers which ease it for dolphins.

Some dolphin species lack a dorsal fin

Working like the keels the dorsal fins of dolphins are located on their back portion and proves helpful for it for swimming purpose. It equally helps dolphins to maintain control over direction it moves in water and so does it remain stable due to that. It should be noted though that dorsal fins are not found in all dolphins. These features are not usually seen in Northern Rightwhale and Southern Rightwhale Dolphins.

Dolphins have a unique sense of hearing

External ear openings are not common in the dolphins to oversee. Small slits are their ear openings that are usually positioned just behind eyes hence hardly have any connection with the middle ear though. Many scientists opine that inner and middle ear of dolphins play pivotal role for sound conduction through fat-lobes which are found inside the lower jaw itself protected under bones and skull as well.

Dolphins have excellent vision in and out of the water

Dolphins change speed once light passes into water from air. A refraction creates due to the formation of optical effect through such scene. They therefore correct the differences through eyes for clear viewing in the many conditions they face. Dolphins have adapted lenses and cornea designed especially which make it easy for them to see everything in and out of water transparently.

Dolphins probably do not have a very strong olfactory sense

There is lacking of olfactory lobes and nerves in dolphins similar to that of rest toothed whales. Such anatomic features are rarely seen in dolphins hence their sense of smell remain poorer as compared to other animals.