Details
Lipotes vexillifer
Baiji is a Yangtze River dolphin with a long beak and adaptations to turbid freshwater. It is often regarded as functionally extinct after pressure from fishing gear, vessels, and river modification.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It occurred in the main Yangtze River and connected lakes in China, but confirmed records have ceased. Main habitat types in this guide are freshwater.
Typical length 140-250 cm, weight 42 kg-167 kg. A long beak, small eyes, and pale gray body suited life in muddy river water where echolocation was vital.
It is active in repeated bouts across day and night and often found in loose groups. It moved through channels and deep river sections, and small groups were once observed.
It is carnivorous. Fish were caught with the long beak, often near the bottom or in turbid water.
Like other river dolphins, it likely bore single calves after a long gestation.
Wild populations are extremely limited and require strict protection. It is often regarded as functionally extinct after pressure from fishing gear, vessels, and river modification.
