South Asian river dolphins are toothed whales in the genus Platanista. They inhabit fresh water habitats in the northern Indian subcontinent. They were historically considered to be one species, but the Ganges river dolphin (pictured) and the Indus river dolphin were described as separate species in 2021, having diverged around 550,000 years ago. South Asian river dolphins are small but stocky cetaceans with long snouts or rostra, broad flippers, and small dorsal fins. Living in murky river waters and relying on echolocation for navigation, they have tiny, lensless eyes. The skull has large crests over the melon, which help direct their echolocation signals as they prey, mainly on fish and shrimp. They are active throughout the day in small groups. Both species are listed as endangered mammals by the IUCN Red List. Major threats include dams, barrages, fishing nets, and both chemical and acoustic pollution.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asian_river_dolphin
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1796:
War of the First Coalition: The Battle of Schliengen was fought between the French and Austrian armies, who both claimed victory. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Schliengen
1945:
The Charter of the United Nations entered into force after being ratified by the five permanent members of the Security Council and a majority of the other signatories. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charter_of_the_United_Nations
1975:
In protest against wage discrepancy and unfair employment practices, 90 percent of Iceland's female population went on strike for a day. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975_Icelandic_women%27s_strike
2003:
The inaugural Afro-Asian Games opened in Hyderabad, with 2,040 athletes from 96 nations competing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Afro-Asian_Games
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
cuttlebone: Synonym of cuttlefish bone (“the calcareous, oval-shaped internal shell of a cuttlefish (order Sepiida), originally used in powdered form as an antacid and for absorbing moisture or polishing objects, and now chiefly as a dietary supplement for cage birds”) https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cuttlebone
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
We don't invent our missions, we detect them. --Stephen Covey https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Stephen_Covey