The
South Asian river dolphin (
Platanista gangetica) is a freshwater or
river dolphin found in
India,
Bangladesh,
Nepal and
Pakistan which is split into two subspecies, the
Ganges river dolphin (
P. g. gangetica) and
Indus river dolphin (
P. g. minor). The Ganges river dolphin is primarily found in the
Ganges and
Brahmaputra Rivers and their tributaries in Bangladesh, India and Nepal, while the Indus river dolphin is found in the
Indus River in Pakistan and its
Beas and
Sutlej tributaries. From the 1970s until 1998, they were regarded as separate species; however, in 1998, their classification was changed from two separate species to subspecies of a single species (see taxonomy below). The Ganges river dolphin has been recognized by the government of India as its National Aquatic Animal.