The bajjis or baiji , also known as the Chinese river dolphin, was declared functionally extinct in 2006. This freshwater dolphin had been a resident of the Yangtze River in China for millions of years. However, human activities such as overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and the construction of dams led to its rapid decline. Despite extensive surveys, no baiji individuals were found during a 2006 expedition, marking the species as effectively extinct. The loss of the baiji highlights the devastating impact of human actions on aquatic ecosystems.
Scientific classification of bajjis
The baiji, also known as the Chinese river dolphin, belongs to the kingdom Animalia and the phylum Chordata, which includes all animals with a notochord. It is classified under the class Mammalia, indicating that it is a warm-blooded animal with hair and mammary glands. The baiji is part of the order Artiodactyla and the infraorder Cetacea, which comprises whales, dolphins, and porpoises. It belongs to the family Lipotidae and is the only member of this family. The baiji’s genus is Lipotes, and its species is Lipotes vexillifer. This unique classification highlights its distinctive evolutionary lineage among aquatic mammals.
Scientific classification of bajjis in table format:
| Category | Details |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Artiodactyla |
| Infraorder | Cetacea |
| Family | Lipotidae |
| Genus | Lipotes |
| Species | Lipotes vexillifer |
What did bajjis eat ?
Baijis primarily fed on a variety of small freshwater fish found in the Yangtze River. Their diet consisted of species that were abundant in their habitat, including carp and other river-dwelling fish. They used echolocation to locate their prey in the murky waters of the river, navigating and hunting effectively even in low-visibility conditions. Baijis were opportunistic feeders, consuming whatever small fish species were readily available in their environment.
Anatomy of bajjis
The baiji, also known as the Chinese river dolphin, had a streamlined body adapted for life in freshwater. Its anatomy featured a long, narrow beak that housed approximately 30 to 36 sharp, conical teeth on each side of its jaw, which were ideal for grasping slippery fish. Baijis had small, rounded eyes, which provided limited vision due to the murky waters of the Yangtze River, but they compensated with highly developed echolocation abilities.
Their dorsal fin was low and triangular, while the pectoral fins were broad and rounded, aiding in maneuverability. The skin was smooth and usually pale bluish-gray on the dorsal side, fading to a lighter white on the underside. Adult baijis typically measured around 2 to 2.5 meters (6.5 to 8 feet) in length and weighed approximately 135 to 230 kilograms (300 to 510 pounds). Their anatomy reflected adaptations for navigating and surviving in the complex river ecosystem they inhabited.
Conclusion
The bajjis, a freshwater dolphin native to the Yangtze River, was a unique species with specialized anatomy and behavior suited to its environment. Despite its adaptations, human activities such as habitat destruction and pollution led to its extinction in 2006. The loss of the baiji highlights the vulnerability of species to environmental changes and emphasizes the need for better conservation efforts to protect other endangered species.
