Yangtze River Dolphin
Yangtze River Dolphin
Yangtze River Dolphin
Once known as the 'Goddess of the Yangtze,' the Yangtze River dolphin, or baiji, was a beloved creature in China. With their pale, pinkish-white bodies, they gracefully navigated the murky waters of the Yangtze River. However, they disappeared in the late 20th century. Let's trace the story of the Yangtze River dolphin and reflect on the message they have left us.
Yangtze River Dolphin Basic Infomation
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lipotes vexillifer |
| Taxonomic Status | SPECIES |
| Rank | SPECIES |
| Vernacular Names | Yangtze River Dolphin, Baiji |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Cetartiodactyla |
| Family | Lipotidae |
| Genus | Lipotes |
| Habitats | Yangtze River basin |
| Conservation Status | EXTINCT |
Size
They were about 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) long and weighed about 353 pounds (160 kilograms). They were a relatively large species of river dolphin. Females tended to be slightly larger than males.
Lifespan
Their lifespan in the wild was about 24 years, but they may have lived longer in captivity.
Distribution
They were found only in the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) in China. They were a rare freshwater dolphin. However, they were not spotted in a large-scale survey conducted in 2006. As a result, they were declared functionally extinct in 2007. Functional extinction means that there are no longer enough individuals to breed, and extinction is considered only a matter of time.
Yangtze River Dolphin Q&A
What kind of dolphin was the Yangtze River dolphin?
The Yangtze River dolphin was a species of dolphin belonging to the family Lipotidae and the genus Lipotes.
They were endemic to the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) in China. They had lived in the Yangtze for about 20 million years and were sometimes called 'living fossils.' Unlike other dolphins, they had very small eyes and poor eyesight. This is thought to be the result of their evolution in the murky waters of the Yangtze River, where they relied on echolocation rather than vision to find prey. They had a long beak, a rounded head, and a stocky build. They were often solitary, but sometimes formed small groups of a few to a dozen individuals. They were known as 'baiji' in Chinese, meaning 'white fin dolphin.' In English, they are called 'Yangtze River dolphin' or 'baiji.'
What did Yangtze River dolphins eat?
Yangtze River dolphins were carnivores and mainly ate fish such as carp and crucian carp.
They used their long beak to probe the mud at the bottom of the river and catch fish. They could also use echolocation to find prey. By emitting sound waves, they could understand their surroundings and pinpoint the location of their prey. This ability allowed them to hunt effectively, even in murky water.
Why did the Yangtze River dolphin go extinct?
The extinction of the Yangtze River dolphin was primarily due to human activities.
・Bycatch from fisheries: They often got caught accidentally in fishing nets and drowned.
・Collisions with vessels: They were often killed by being struck by boat propellers.
・Water pollution: Pollution from industrial wastewater, sewage, and agricultural runoff degraded the water quality of the Yangtze River, reducing their food sources and causing disease.
・Dam construction: Dam construction fragmented their habitat and restricted their movement.
・Noise pollution: Noise from boats and sonar interfered with their communication and caused stress.
These combined factors led to a drastic decline in their population in the late 20th century, and they were declared functionally extinct in 2007. Functional extinction means that there are no longer enough individuals to breed, and extinction is only a matter of time. The Yangtze River dolphin is one of the species that was driven to extinction by humans. Their extinction serves as a stark reminder of the importance of coexisting with nature. We must learn from the lessons of the Yangtze River dolphin and strive to create a society that can coexist with all living creatures on Earth.
Would you like to become a part of the 'Animalbook.jp'?
Turn your knowledge into Q&A and share it with the world. ※Publication will be activated after purchase. Let's share information together!
Yangtze River Dolphin Type of List
Characteristics of Yangtze River Dolphins
- Pale bluish-gray color
- Long beak
- Rounded head
- Stocky build
- Very small eyes
- Poor eyesight
- Often solitary, but sometimes formed small groups
- Found only in the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) in China
- Functionally extinct
Information
Congratulations! You are the first commenter!
Create Your Favorite List!
Yangtze River Dolphin
Save the animals you love! Build your own list to quickly revisit your favorites later.
Would you like to leave a comment?
※Please note: This is for the purchase of rights to post comments within the article.
Find Your Favorites!
Our shop offers a unique and attractive selection of goods themed around various animals.
Yangtze River Dolphin References
Yangtze River Dolphin Introduction of media used
Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Tangdadi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Help Enrich Our Animalbook.jp with Your Media!
We are constantly looking to expand and enrich our Animalbook.jp with amazing photos and videos of animals. If you have any media that you'd like to share, please contribute and help us showcase the beauty and diversity of the animal kingdom. Your submissions will be credited and featured in our encyclopedia, reaching a wide audience of animal lovers.
Yangtze River Dolphin
Disclaimer : This article is created by AI. While we strive for accuracy, there is a possibility that it contains errors. When making important decisions, please refer to official information and expert opinions, and use it at your own risk.
