UPSC Prelims 2019 Q29: Environment & Ecology – Protected Areas & Wildlife
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 1 and 3 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only
Explanation
Wildlife - Natural Habitat Pairs
| Pair | Claim | Verdict | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue-finned Mahseer - Cauvery River | TRUE | Blue-finned Mahseer (Tor khudree) is native to the peninsular Deccan rivers including the Cauvery, Krishna and Godavari systems. The Cauvery hosts a well-documented Blue-finned Mahseer population - critically endangered. |
| 2 | Irrawaddy Dolphin - Chambal River | FALSE | Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) is a coastal and estuarine species - found in Chilika Lake (Odisha) and the Sundarbans, NOT in the Chambal. The Chambal hosts the Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica), a completely different species. |
| 3 | Rusty-spotted Cat - Eastern Ghats | TRUE | The rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) - the world's smallest wild cat - is found across the Eastern Ghats, Central India dry forests and Sri Lanka. |
Correct pairs: 1 and 3. Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only.
Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Pair 2 (Irrawaddy dolphin in Chambal) is wrong - Irrawaddy dolphins live in Chilika and the Sundarbans, not the Chambal.
- (b) CORRECT. Blue-finned Mahseer is native to the Cauvery (peninsular Deccan rivers), and the rusty-spotted cat is documented across the Eastern Ghats. Pair 2 is wrong (Chambal hosts the Gangetic dolphin, not the Irrawaddy dolphin).
- (c) Incorrect. Pair 2 (Irrawaddy dolphin in Chambal) is factually wrong.
- (d) Incorrect. Pair 2 is wrong; the Chambal has the Gangetic dolphin, not the Irrawaddy dolphin.
Key point
Blue-finned Mahseer = Cauvery/Deccan rivers (TRUE). Irrawaddy dolphin = Chilika + Sundarbans (NOT Chambal). Chambal = Gangetic dolphin. Rusty-spotted cat = Eastern Ghats + Central India (TRUE).
Remember
The correct pairs are: Blue-finned Mahseer - Cauvery River (native to peninsular Deccan rivers), and Rusty-spotted Cat - Eastern Ghats (documented across Eastern Ghats and Central India dry forests). Irrawaddy dolphin lives in Chilika Lake and the Sundarbans - NOT in the Chambal, which hosts the Gangetic dolphin.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the Irrawaddy dolphin (coastal/estuarine, Chilika, Sundarbans) with the Gangetic dolphin (freshwater, Ganga-Yamuna-Chambal system).
- Assuming any Indian dolphin is Gangetic - Irrawaddy is a separate species with a very different range.
- Not knowing the rusty-spotted cat weighs only 0.9-1.6 kg - the world's smallest wild cat.
Exam tip
Freshwater dolphins in India: Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica) = Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Brahmaputra. Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) = Chilika Lake, Sundarbans estuaries, coastal waters. Two completely different genera - don't swap.
Sources
- IUCN Red List - Tor khudree, Orcaella brevirostris, Platanista gangetica, Prionailurus rubiginosus range maps
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — mahseer