Baiji Lipotes vexillifer Critically endangered
Where the baiji lives – recorded in 1 country, with quick facts from Wikidata and an introduction from Wikipedia.
Pin and shaded countries are approximate. The pin is a representative wild sighting (a central record among 8 open-licence GBIF records), not an official range. Method · Records on GBIF · See whales & dolphins on the world map
| Scientific name | Lipotes vexillifer |
|---|---|
| Group | Whales & dolphins |
| Status | Critically endangered (Wikidata, IUCN category label) |
| Found in | 1 country |
| Continents | Asia |
| Class | Mammal |
| Order | Artiodactyla |
| Family | Lipotidae |
Where does the baiji live?
Open-licence (CC0 / CC BY) wild records published on GBIF place the baiji in 1 country or territory across Asia. Wikidata lists it as endemic to People's Republic of China.
Countries with at least a handful of records (a minimum share of the species’ records, to leave out vagrants and escapes). Records with coordinates only; captive and fossil records excluded.
Is the baiji endangered?
The baiji’s conservation status recorded in Wikidata is “Critically endangered” (an IUCN Red List category label). Source: Wikidata.
What kind of animal is the baiji?
The baiji (Lipotes vexillifer) is a mammal in the order Artiodactyla and the family Lipotidae, genus Lipotes. (Taxonomy from Wikidata.)
About the baiji
The baiji (Lipotes vexillifer) is a possibly extinct species of river dolphin native to the Yangtze river system in China. It is thought to possibly be the first dolphin species driven to extinction due to the impact of humans. This dolphin is listed as "critically endangered: possibly extinct" by the IUCN, has not been definitively seen in over 20 years, and several surveys of the Yangtze have failed to find it. The species is also called the Chinese river dolphin, Yangtze river dolphin, Yangtze dolphin, and whitefin dolphin. The genus name Lipotes means "left behind" and the species epithet vexillifer means "flag bearer". It is nicknamed the "Goddess of the Yangtze" and was regarded as the goddess of protection by local fishermen and boatmen. It is not to be confused with the Chinese white dolphin (Sousa chinensis) or the finless porpoise (Neophocaena). This is the only species in the genus Lipotes.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Baiji (revision 1375535738), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: lead section excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Quick facts, taxonomy and status: Wikidata Q188130 (CC0). Countries and pin: GBIF.org occurrence records (CC0 / CC BY 4.0).
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