Aquatic Species of Ganga River Basin

An aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem that is found in and around bodies of water and is home to species that depend on each other and their environment. Unlike terrestrial ecosystems, which are land-based, aquatic ecosystems include both marine and freshwater habitats, each supporting a wide range of aquatic flora and fauna. Aquatic animals, whether vertebrate or invertebrate, live in water for all or most of their lives, with species inhabiting oceans, seas, rivers, ponds, and lakes. The Ganga River, one of Asia's largest rivers, flows over 2,500 km from ‘Goumukh’ in Uttarakhand to the ‘Bay of Bengal’ at Ganga Sagar in West Bengal, covering 26% of India’s landmass. It serves as a vital habitat for numerous rare and threatened species. The Ganga River system is home to 143 freshwater fish species, the Gangetic dolphin, three species of otters (Smooth-coated, Eurasian, and Small-clawed otter), the critically endangered Gharial, Mugger crocodile, Estuarine crocodile, and at least 12 species of freshwater turtles. The river also supports endangered species such as tigers, elephants, sloth bears, four-horned antelopes, and the Large Indian Civet, as well as species like the Rhesus macaque and Gray Langur. In the upper reaches of the river in the Himalayas, many species depend on the Ganga, including deer, boar, wildcats, wolves, jackals, foxes, and the elusive snow leopard. The Ganga and its tributaries support thousands of birds, fishes and numerous other species, with many depending on the river’s waters for nourishment, while those along the banks rely on it for their survival.