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? (UPSC Prelims 2019)

Question

The correct answer is [C] 1 and 3 only.

Blue-finned Mahseer — Cauvery River (Pair 1 – Correct): The Blue-finned Mahseer (Tor khudree) is naturally found in the rivers of the Deccan plateau, including the Cauvery River. It is an iconic freshwater fish and a key indicator of the river\'s health.
Irrawaddy Dolphin — Chambal River (Pair 2 – Incorrect): Irrawaddy Dolphins are primarily found in coastal areas, estuaries, and specific rivers like the Irrawaddy (Myanmar), Mahakam (Borneo), and Mekong. In India, they are famously found in Chilika Lake (Odisha). The dolphin found in the Chambal River is the Gangetic River Dolphin, which is a freshwater species.
Rusty-spotted Cat — Eastern Ghats (Pair 3 – Correct): The Rusty-spotted Cat is one of the world\'s smallest wild cats. While it was traditionally thought to be found mainly in the Western Ghats, recent sightings and studies have confirmed its presence in the Eastern Ghats (such as in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha) and parts of Central India.

GKToday Admin · Accepted Answer

1 and 3 only The correct answer is [C] 1 and 3 only.

Blue-finned Mahseer — Cauvery River (Pair 1 – Correct): The Blue-finned Mahseer (Tor khudree) is naturally found in the rivers of the Deccan plateau, including the Cauvery River. It is an iconic freshwater fish and a key indicator of the river\'s health.
Irrawaddy Dolphin — Chambal River (Pair 2 – Incorrect): Irrawaddy Dolphins are primarily found in coastal areas, estuaries, and specific rivers like the Irrawaddy (Myanmar), Mahakam (Borneo), and Mekong. In India, they are famously found in Chilika Lake (Odisha). The dolphin found in the Chambal River is the Gangetic River Dolphin, which is a freshwater species.
Rusty-spotted Cat — Eastern Ghats (Pair 3 – Correct): The Rusty-spotted Cat is one of the world\'s smallest wild cats. While it was traditionally thought to be found mainly in the Western Ghats, recent sightings and studies have confirmed its presence in the Eastern Ghats (such as in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha) and parts of Central India.

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