| Indus river dolphin | |
|---|---|
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| Size compared to an average human | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Infraorder: | Cetacea |
| Family: | Platanistidae |
| Genus: | Platanista |
| Species: | P. minor
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| Binomial name | |
| Platanista minor Owen, 1853
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| Ranges of the Indus river dolphin and Ganges river dolphin | |
The Indus river dolphin (Platanista minor) is a species of freshwater dolphin in the family Platanistidae. It is endemic to the Indus River basin in Pakistan and Beas River in northwestern India.[1] This dolphin was the first discovered side-swimming cetacean. It is patchily distributed in five small, sub-populations that are separated by irrigation barrages.[2]
From the 1970s until 1998, the Ganges River dolphin (Platanista gangetica) and the Indus dolphin were regarded as separate species; however, in 1998, their classification was changed from two separate species to subspecies of a single species. However, more recent studies support them being distinct species. It has been named as the national mammal of Pakistan and the state aquatic animal of Punjab, India.
- ^ a b c Braulik, G.T.; Khan, U.; Malik, M. & Aisha, H. (2023) [errata version of 2022 assessment]. "Platanista minor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T41757A243168232. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T41757A243168232.en. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ Braulik, G.T. (2006). "Status assessment of the Indus river dolphin, Platanista gangetica minor, March–April 2001". Biological Conservation. 129 (4): 579–590. Bibcode:2006BCons.129..579B. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2005.11.026.