Endangered Species Guide : Mammals : Animal Planet

Endangered Mammals

Pictures: AP Photo |

BAIJI, aka YANGTZE RIVER DOLPHIN (Lipotes vexillifer)

The Baiji is a toothed whale with an elongated beak, a sleek body and an average weight of about 300 pounds. Their eyes are not well formed so they rely on echolocation to navigate and search for food in the muddy river bottom. There are many threats to this species, including collisions with boats and loss of prey species by overfishing, pollution and dams. Engine noise also interferes with echolocation.

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IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
Major Threats: Boat collisions, loss of prey species, pollution and dams
Habitat: Lakes and rivers
Location: China's Yangtze River and nearby water systems
Diet: Fish

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Pictures: AP Photo |

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