Question 50 from UPSC CSE 2019 - Environment

Question

Consider the following pairs: Wildlife Naturally found in
1. Blue-finned Mahseer - Cauvery River
2. Irrawaddy Dolphin - Chambal River
3. Rusty-spotted Cat - Eastern Ghats
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. 1 and 3 only

Strategy: - Evaluate pair 1: The Blue-finned Mahseer is endemic to the Cauvery, confirming this pair is correct.
- Evaluate pair 2: The Irrawaddy Dolphin is found in Chilika Lake, not the Chambal River, making this pair incorrect.
- Evaluate pair 3: The Rusty-spotted Cat's habitat includes the Eastern Ghats, confirming this pair is correct.
- Select the option that includes only pairs 1 and 3.

Key Info: **Blue-finned Mahseer**
The Blue-finned Mahseer (Neolissochilus hirsutus), also called Hump-backed Mahseer, is a large endangered freshwater fish endemic to peninsular Indian rivers, especially the Cauvery in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It is culturally and ecologically significant, facing pressure from habitat loss and overfishing.

**Irrawaddy Dolphin**
The Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) is a freshwater and estuarine dolphin categorized as Endangered by the IUCN. It inhabits coastal areas and river deltas of South and Southeast Asia, with the main Indian population in Odisha's Chilika Lake. It is not found in the Chambal River, which is a habitat for the National Aquatic Animal, the Gangetic River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica).

**Rusty-spotted Cat**
The Rusty-spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) is one of the world's smallest wild cats, distributed in India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. In India, its range includes moist and dry deciduous forests throughout the central and southern regions, including the Eastern Ghats. It is listed as 'Near Threatened' on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 and 2 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: 2 and 3 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: 1, 2, and 3

Consider the following pairs: Wildlife Naturally found in Blue-finned Mahseer - Cauvery River Irrawaddy Dolphin - Chambal River Rusty-spotted Cat - Eastern Ghats Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Consider the following pairs: Wildlife Naturally found in

Blue-finned Mahseer - Cauvery River

Irrawaddy Dolphin - Chambal River

Rusty-spotted Cat - Eastern Ghats
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?