Ganges Shark

                                              

GANGES SHARK

Ever heard of a shark in river Ganges , Well it does exists and it's on the brink of extinction as well , a red list "critically endangered species" as its name suggests, is largely restricted to the rivers of Eastern and North-Eastern India, particularly the Hooghly River of West Bengal.The Ganges, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi in Assam, Bihar and Orissa respectively. Bengalis call it Baagh Maach which means tiger fish. It is typically found in the mid to lower reaches of a river.



The Ganges shark (Glyphis gangeticus) is a rare species of fresh water shark that dwells in the Ganges River. It should not be confused with the Bull shark, which also inhabits the Ganges River and is sometimes referred to as the Ganges shark. It is stocky, with a broadly rounded snout and small eyes. The shark tends to have a uniform gray to brownish coloration, with no discernible pattern or markings.
A freshwater species, the notorious Ganges shark is known from only two surviving specimens collected in the Ganges River. Its small eyes may indicate that this species lives exclusively in the murky Ganges.


The shark, though poorly documented, is known to inhabit only freshwater, inshore marine and estuarine systems. Its feeding habits are unknown. Its maximum size is in the area of 2 metres (6.6 ft). It is probably viviparous, measuring 55 to 60 centimetres (22 to 24 in) at birth.

Conservation

The Ganges shark is believed to be seriously endangered.According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the Ganges shark is one of 20 sharks on the "Red List" of endangered shark species.Widespread and rampant overfishing has depleted the population of these sharks. Their oil, along with that of the Gangetic Dolphin is highly sought after.

Danger to humans

The shark may pose a threat to humans, but this has not been proven. Though some consider the Ganges shark to be "extremely dangerous , it has so far been impossible to separate its attacks from those of bull sharks.Most likely the shark is a specialized species that feeds primarily on small fish. Amongst the deadly sharks inhabiting the Ganges, the bull shark represents a greater definite danger than this extremely endangered and elusive species.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganges_Shark#cite_ref-2