Facts about Yangtze River Dolphins

1. 07

   Baiji dolphins were endemic to China's Yangtze River, making them one of only four freshwater dolphin species found anywhere in the world.

   Yangtze River DolphinsJun 8sharebiologyconservationrivers
2. 06

   Approximately 1,200 finless porpoises inhabited the Yangtze River by 2017, making them the most critically endangered cetacean population in the world.

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3. 05

   Yangtze finless porpoises typically live 15 to 20 years in the wild, with females reaching sexual maturity around age 4 to 5 years old.

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4. 04

   Echolocation clicks produced by Yangtze finless porpoises occur at frequencies between 40 and 130 kilohertz, allowing them to navigate murky river waters with minimal visibility.

   Yangtze River DolphinsMay 14sharebiologysensoryadaptation
5. 03

   In 2007, fewer than 1,800 finless porpoises remained in the Yangtze River, representing a 90 percent decline over five decades due to boat traffic and fishing nets.

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6. 02

   Finless porpoises in the Yangtze River can dive up to 600 meters deep and hold their breath for approximately 30 minutes while hunting.

   Yangtze River DolphinsMay 14sharebiologymeasurementbehavior
7. 01

   The baiji, a Yangtze River dolphin species, was officially declared functionally extinct in 2002 after no sightings occurred since 1997.

   Yangtze River DolphinsMay 14shareextinctionbiologyconservation