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

Answer: (c) Gangetic dolphin

The Gangetic river dolphin was declared India’s national aquatic animal in 2009.

The idea

The Gangetic dolphin lives only in fresh water, in the Ganga–Brahmaputra river system. It can survive only in a river that is deep, flowing and full of fish, so its presence shows that the river is healthy. That is why it was chosen as the national aquatic animal.

Muddy river: eyes are of little use → The dolphin is almost blind → Finds its way and its prey by echolocation → Comes up to breathe with a “su-su” sound → Local name: susu

Why the others are wrong

(d) The gharial is a Ganga-system reptile, but not the national aquatic animal.

Also know

It is Endangered. India’s only dolphin sanctuary is Vikramshila in Bihar. Project Dolphin was announced in 2020, and the first full survey counted about 6,300 dolphins in the Ganga and Brahmaputra systems. It is also the State aquatic animal of Assam.