Blind River Dolphin: First Side-Swimming Cetacean

Authors

• Earl S. Herald, Steinhart Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco
• Robert L. Brownell Jr., Steinhart Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences, San FranciscoFollow
• Fredric L. Frye, Steinhart Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco
• Elkan J. Morris, Steinhart Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco
• William Evans, Naval Undersea Research and Development Center, San Diego, California 92132
• Alan Scott, Institute of Medical Sciences, Pacific Medical Center, Sanl Francisco, California

Date of this Version

12-12-1969

Comments

Published in Science, New Series, Vol. 166, No. 3911 (Dec. 12, 1969), pp. 1408-1410.

Abstract

The blind river dolphin (Platanista gangetica), first written about by Pliny the Elder in A.D. 72, was found (10 November 1968) to be the first known side-swimming cetacean. The rudimentary eye lacks the lens, but anatomical evidence suggests that the eye may serve as a light sensor. The underwater sound emissions of this species, although similar to those of the Amazon River dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), appear to be produced constantly.