Pictures and facts about the Baiji

Picture has been licensed under a GFDL
Original source: universitary work
Author: Alessio Marrucci
Permission: GNU Free Documentation License

Baiji

Order : Cetacea
Suborder : Odontoceti
Family : Platanistidae
Species : Lipotes vexillifer

Baiji (Lipotes vexillifer), was found in the China's Chang Jiang river, and also at the lower areas of Quintangjiang River. They are 'functionally extinct', meaning that they are alread extinct, or that there are no Baiji to save the species from extinction. Baiji are freshwater dolphins. Consistent with the body of dolphins, they have streamlines forms. A Baiji has rounded flippers, beak-like snouts and totally devoid of hair. Eyes are small but operational, the blowholes are shaped elliptically. Baijis possess a combination of colors, blue-gray mixed with white. These dolphins possess no forestomach, but the main stomach is made up of 3 compartments.

The female Baiji measures on the average from 1.85 m to 2.53 m, weighing at anything from 64kgs to 167. The males on the other hand would be from 1.41 m to 2.16 m, weight's range is from 42 to 125 kgs.

The breeding period of the Baiji only occurs every 2 years, and their mating period goes to a peak during autumn and spring. The reproductive maturity of the distaff side is from 3 to 8 years, the same goes to the male side.

Their longevity could reach up to 24 years, but that is in the wild. These dolphins ordinarily go in pairs, and they could join up with other pairs, forming a set of about ten. During nighttime, they stay in territories of slow current, but they are classified as diurnal. They use echolocation as a means of navigation and search for food, and in communicating, they whistle to each other. Their diet consists of fish, and they probe the bottom using their impressive beaks. A typical dive is very brief, not exceeding 20 seconds.

The Baiji has been labelled by China as a national treasure "of the first order".

Interesting fact: Many times before, the fat of dead Baijis was utilized for medicinal objectives and the flesh was eaten.

Picture of the baiji by Alessio Marrucci, licensed under GFDL

Facts about the baiji

Baiji is a city of northern Iraq; in the region of Mosul.

edu/~rowe22/ Chinese Baiji River Dolphin: Lipotes vexillifer is known by a range of common names, which include Chinese river http://www.

Encyclopedia Home IndexBaiji is a city of north

Encyclopedia Home IndexBaiji is: a city of

Lipotes vexillifer The Chinese River Dolphin, or Baiji (白鱀 Pinyin: bai1 ji4) (Lipotes vexillifer) is a freshwater dolphin found only in the Yangtze River in China.

Lipotes vexilliferThe Chinese River Dolphin, or Baiji (白鱀 Pinyin : báijì) (Lipotes vexillifer) is a freshwater dolphin found only in the YangtzeRiver in China .

Recognition at sea: The only other cetacean inhabiting the same area as the Baiji is the Finless Porpoise.

The baiji is an endangered river dolphin found exclusively in the lower Chang Jiang (Yangzi/Yangtze River) located in China.

The Chinese River Dolphin, or Baiji (白鱀 Pinyin: báijì) (Lipotes vexillifer) is a freshwater dolphin found only in the Yangtze River in China.

Baiji or Lipotes vexillifer is listed on the IUCN Red list (1996) as Critically Endangered due to A1bc, C2b, D. (Full text)

Baiji is: a city of northern Iraq. (Full text)

The Chinese River Dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer) is a freshwater dolphin found only in the Yangtze River in China. (Full text)

In the dark, merky waters that fill most of the Yangtze River in China, the Baiji is dying. (Full text)

The Baiji is a [CITIES-listed Endangered Species] (Full text)

org) The baiji is a graceful animal, with a long, narrow and slightly upturned beak and a flexible neck. (Full text)

With perhaps 300 or fewer remaining in the Yangtze River in central China, baijis are the river dolphins closest to extinction. (Full text)

The Chinese River Dolphin, or Baiji (白鱀 Pinyin: báijì) (Lipotes vexillifer) is a freshwater dolphin found only in the Yangtze River in China. (Full text)

ReproductionInformation on the reproductive behavior of the Chinese river dolphin, Lipotes vexillifer is scarce. (Full text)

GLOBAL Probably in the 10's or even less than 10; baijis are the world's most endangered cetacean (Full text)

Being trained to please listeners, the baijis are good raconteurs, she points out. (Full text)

Baiji, Iraq Baiji is a city of about 60,000 inhabitants in northern Iraq some 130 miles north . (Full text)

RayThe most famous Baijis are Moslems. (Full text)

The most famous Baijis are Moslems. (Full text)