Yangtze river dolphin (baiji)

E85260

The Yangtze river dolphin, or baiji, was a nearly blind freshwater dolphin endemic to China’s Yangtze River and is now considered functionally extinct due to habitat degradation and human activity.

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Observed surface forms (4)

Surface form Occurrences
Yangtze river dolphin 0
Baiji 1
Chinese river dolphin 1

Statements (56)

Predicate Object
instanceOf cetacean
endemic species
extinct species
freshwater dolphin
mammal
toothed whale
averageLength about 2.3 to 2.5 meters
averageWeight about 135 to 230 kilograms
bodyColor bluish gray
pale underside
causeOfDecline intensive human activity on the Yangtze River
class Mammalia
commonName baiji
conservationStatusSystem IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
surface form: IUCN Red List
country China
culturalSignificance known as the "Goddess of the Yangtze" in Chinese folklore
diet fish
small freshwater fish
distribution Lake Dongting
surface form: Dongting Lake

Poyang Lake
middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River
ecologicalRole apex predator in Yangtze freshwater ecosystem
endemicTo China
eyeAdaptation poor eyesight
eyeCharacteristic very small eyes
family Lipotidae
feedingBehavior active predator
genus Lipotes
gestationPeriod about 10 to 11 months
habitat freshwater river
large turbid river channels
IUCNStatus Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct)
kingdom Animalia
lastConfirmedSurvey 2006 Yangtze River survey
lastConfirmedSurveyResult no individuals found
lifespan estimated up to 24 years
maximumLength around 2.7 meters
namedBy John Edward Gray
nativeTo Yangtze River
order Cetacea
phylum Chordata
primaryThreat bycatch in fishing gear
dam construction
habitat degradation
overfishing
pollution
ship traffic
rangeType riverine
reproduction gives birth to a single calf
scientificName Lipotes
surface form: Lipotes vexillifer
sensoryAdaptation echolocation
sexualDimorphism females larger than males
snoutCharacteristic long narrow beak
statusDescription functionally extinct
taxonRank species
yearDescribed 1870

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

baiji commonName Yangtze river dolphin (baiji)
this entity surface form: Yangtze River dolphin
baiji commonName Yangtze river dolphin (baiji)
this entity surface form: Chinese river dolphin
Yangtze River formerNotableSpecies Yangtze river dolphin (baiji)
Tikrit nearbyCity Yangtze river dolphin (baiji)
this entity surface form: Baiji