Facts about Baiji

1. 08

   Sonar signals from baiji dolphins could penetrate sediment layers in the Yangtze River, allowing them to detect prey buried in mud up to 30 centimeters deep.

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2. 07

   Unlike modern dolphins with conical teeth, baiji dolphins possessed 130 to 180 small, sharp teeth designed for gripping slippery fish in river habitats.

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3. 06

   Baiji dolphins possessed a distinctive white coloration on their lower jaw and belly that intensified as individuals aged, creating a striking contrast with their darker upper bodies.

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4. 05

   Male baiji dolphins possessed a prominent rounded melon organ on their forehead that grew larger with age, distinguishing them visually from females of the species.

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5. 04

   Echolocation clicks produced by baiji dolphins operated at frequencies around 40 to 130 kilohertz, enabling them to navigate murky Yangtze River waters with exceptional precision.

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6. 03

   Approximately 1,800 baiji dolphins populated the Yangtze River in 1950, but this population declined to fewer than 50 individuals by the 1990s due to boat traffic, fishing nets, and pollution.

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7. 02

   In 1914, a baiji specimen was scientifically described by anatomist G. E. Dobson, establishing the species name Lipotes vexillifer based on skeletal measurements and unique cranial features.

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8. 01

   The baiji dolphin, declared functionally extinct in 2006 after inhabiting China's Yangtze River for over 20 million years, represented the first dolphin species driven to extinction by humans.

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