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

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

(a)

Saltwater Crocodile

(b)

Olive ridley turtle

(c)

Gangetic dolphin

(d)

Gharial

Answer:

(c)

Core Books/NCERT

Explanation

River Dolphin is the National Aquatic Animal of India. This mammal is also said to represent the purity of the holy Ganga as it can only survive in pure and fresh water. They are locally known as susu, because of the noise it makes while breathing. This species inhabits parts of the Ganges, Meghna and Brahmaputra rivers in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, and the Karnaphuli River in Bangladesh. River dolphin is a critically endangered species in India and therefore, has been included in the Schedule I for the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The main reasons for decline in population of the species are poaching and habitat degradation due to declining flow, heavy siltation, construction of barrages causing physical barrier for this migratory species.Tikdam: easy