The total teeth ranges from 30 … Poor water and weather conditions may have prevented sightings,[7] but expedition leaders declared it "functionally extinct" on December 13, 2006, as fewer are likely to be alive than are needed to propagate the species. Baijis lived largely in the mainstream of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and two large connecting lakes - Dongting and Poyang. The Yangtze is highly degraded, and we spotted dramatically fewer finless porpoises than we have in the past. Other articles where Baiji is discussed: dolphin: Paleontology and classification: The Chinese river dolphin, or baiji (Lipotes vexillifer), remains in this group, but most sources consider it to be extinct. Dolphins are well known for their intellect, their gregarious nature, and their acrobatic abilities. The baiji is sometimes called the Yangtze dolphin, the White fin or the White flag. They occur in pairs or small groups of about 10 individuals spending the day in search of fish. The Yangtze is the third longest and largest river in the world and the biggest river in Asia. The Yangtze is the third longest and largest river in the world and the biggest river in Asia. Also known as the boto or pink river dolphin, the Amazon River dolphin swims throughout much of the famed South American river basin and the neighboring Orinoco river basin that stretches through Colombia and Venezuela. The baiji, in the region of Yangtze, is regarded as a symbol of peace and prosperity. The Chinese river dolphin or Baiji is the rarest freshwater cetacean of all. ¡æ°´è±šé¡žè€ƒå¯Ÿ; pinyin: Cháng Jiāng dànshuǐ túnlèi kǎochá) raised suspicions of the first unequivocal extinction of a cetacean species due to human action[48] (some extinct baleen whale populations might not have been distinct species). The baiji was a freshwater dolphin that lived only in the Yangtze River in China. Known as Baiji (‘white-finned dolphin’), it was regarded as the goddess of protection by local fishermen and boatmen in China. The baiji population declined drastically in decades as China industrialized and made heavy use of the river for fishing, transportation, and hydroelectricity. Learn all about dolphins, appearnce, their color, classification, species, weight, length, lifespan, special features, body parts, teeth, brain, intelligence,diet, habitat, prey, predator, adaptations, behavior, hunting techniques, echolocation, communication, lifecycle, baby dolphin … The gestation period lasts 10-11 months after which females give birth to a single calf. The World Wildlife Fund is calling for the preservation of any possible baiji habitat, in case the species is located and can be revived. The Baiji was one of five species of dolphins that have made freshwater their exclusive habitat. PaleoBios 42:1-46. They are usually quiet and shy and difficult to approach. Males reach reproductive maturity at age four, while females are ready to breed when they are six years old. They are beautiful creatures that can grow up … Quick Facts of Yangtze River Dolphin: Nicknamed "Goddess of the Yangtze", the animal is also known as Chinese River Dolphin, or Baiji. This affirmation has little to do with their physical appearance and their rare sightings, given the great danger that runs in their natural habitat. info), Lipotes vexillifer, Lipotes meaning "left behind", vexillifer "flag bearer") is a possibly extinct species of freshwater dolphin, and is thought to be the first dolphin species driven to extinction due to the impact of humans. In August 2007, Zeng Yujiang reportedly videotaped a large white animal swimming in the Yangtze in Anhui Province. [51] Other reports cite government media English language reports in China Central Television and Xinhua News Agency as evidence to the contrary.[52]. IWC. In fact, since 2006 nobody has seen a specimen alive, so presumably is already extinct.Its name in Chinese, Baiji, means “white dolphin” and is known by the nickname of “the goddess of th… Some reports suggest that information about the baiji and its demise is being suppressed in China. The sighting was done from a bridge in Nanjing city. They don't have very good vision, but they do have echolocation to help them find their food. Currently, this species is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing. It has been credibly claimed, after surveys in the Yangtze River during the 1980s, that baiji could be the first dolphin species in history that humans have driven to extinction. The Chinese river dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer) or baiji was a river dolphin.It was found only in the Yangtze River in China.The last confirmed sighting of the baiji was in 2004 but there were possible sightings in 2007 and 2016 as well. The baiji Dolphin is 2.60m (8.5') long and weights about 167kg (368lbs). "Status and aspects of the ecology and behaviour of the baiji (, Yangtze River § Degradation of the river, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Yangtze Freshwater Dolphin Expedition 2006, List of endangered and protected species of China, "Lipotes vexillifer (Chinese river dolphin)", 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T12119A3322533.en, "Conservation of the Baiji: No Simple Solution", "China's Rare River Dolphin Now Extinct, Experts Announce", "Rare Dolphin Seen in China, Experts Say", "Report of the Workshop on Conservation of the Baiji and Yangtze Finless Porpoise", "Baiji genomes reveal low genetic variability and new insights into secondary aquatic adaptations", "Rescue Plan Prepared for Yangtze River Dolphins", "First human-caused extinction of a cetacean species? Nicknamed t… Press, Baltimore. They have no symbiosis of any kind. They are also known as the Whitefin Dolphin, Yangtze Dolphin and White Flag Dolphin. [63], This article is about the dolphin. Baiji White Dolphin. Its dorsal fin is low and triangular in shape and resembles a light-colored flag when the dolphin swims just below the surface of the murky Yangtze River, hence the name "white-flag" dolphin. Population The total population in the early 1990s was believed to be less than 100 The baiji, or 'goddess of the Yangtze', was a species of white river dolphin that was abundant in the Yangtze for around 20 million years before it was wiped out by hunting and pollution. [60], In October 2016 several news sources announced a recent sighting of what has been speculated to be a baiji. The Baiji Dolphin is a river dolphin found in the Yangtze River in China. They do have teeth on the upper and lower jaws. The baiji Dolphin is also now as the white fin dolphin. Per Chinese folklore, a beautiful young girl is said to have lived with her stepfather on the banks of the river Yangtze. Scientists estimated that the total amount of Yangtze River Dolphin was less than 50 in 2002. It is in fact nicknamed ‘Goddess of the Yangtze’ . Baiji are carnivores (piscivores) and feed on a wide variety of freshwater fish. The male grows up to 2.5 meters long and the female 2.3 meters and weighs between 100 & 150 kg. [62], There was a sighting claimed to belong to Baiji surfacing along with a pod of finless porpoises at Tongling in Anhui province in April 2018. Their long beak allows them to find food at the bottom of the muddy water, but they usually only dive for about 10 to 20 seconds at a time. The Japanese sea lion and Caribbean monk seal disappeared in the 1950s, the last aquatic mammals to become extinct. In August 2007, a Chinese man reportedly videotaped a large white animal swimming in the Yangtze. If the unconfirmed sighting is authentic, it would come as a shock to biologists: The small and nearly blind white dolphin, nicknamed the "goddess of … In December 2006, the baiji white dolphin became extinct. Four other species of river dolphins also are in this family. They have teeth on both the jaws which range from 30-36. Name Common name: Baiji, Yangtze River Dolphin, Chinese river dolphin, white-fin dolphin, white-flag dolphin.