Indus river dolphin

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/indus-river-dolphin

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Platanista minor
2. What is the population status?Endangered, with fragmented and isolated sub-populations
3. How does the Indus River Dolphin find food?It uses echolocation, emitting high‑frequency clicks and listening for the echoes to locate fish, crustaceans, and other small creatures. Its long, narrow snout helps it probe the riverbed for food.
4. Why is the Indus River Dolphin endangered?Dams, barrages, and irrigation water use break up its habitat, reduce water flow, and isolate dolphin groups. This makes it harder for them to find food and move between areas.

Endemic: Native or restricted to a certain country or area.
Biosonar: A biological system used by some animals to locate objects and navigate using sound waves.
Benthic: Relating to or occurring at the bottom of a body of water.