Observe and photograph a species in its natural habitat
Learn where and when to observe a species in the wild, how to recognize it in the field, and what habitats it lives in. Get photography tips adapted to its behavior and capture stunning images without disturbing the animal. For full details, open the complete profile in the WildlifePhotographer app.
South Asian river dolphin
Scientific name: Platanista gangetica
IUCN Status: Endangered
Family: PLATANISTIDAE
Group: Marine mammals
Shyness: Very shy
Safe distance: 50 m
Breeding season / Courtship: N/A
Gestation: 10–11 mois
Births: Toute l'année
Habitat:
Shallow rivers, oxbow lakes and canals
Description:
The South Asian river dolphin is a small freshwater cetacean in the family Platanistidae, measuring 2–2.5 m in length, with a pale grey streamlined body and a long narrow beak. It inhabits shallow rivers, oxbow lakes, and canals of the South Asian subcontinent, feeding mainly on freshwater fish and crustaceans. Blind, it uses echolocation to navigate and hunt in turbid waters.
Recommended lens:
>=400 mm
Photography tips:
Use a telephoto lens and approach quietly by boat or kayak at drift speed. Shoot at water level to capture the blow and the dolphin's profile, using a fast shutter speed to freeze splashes and a shallow depth of field to isolate the subject.
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