Culture Arena
China · Nature & Wildlife · Hard
Which critically endangered porpoise, (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis), is the only remaining cetacean in the Yangtze River system after the baiji's functional extinction—with fewer than 1,000 surviving?
Answer: Yangtze finless porpoise — The Yangtze finless porpoise (jiang tun) is distinguished by its lack of a dorsal fin, giving it a rounded, dolphin-like appearance. Its population crash from boat traffic, dams and pollution mirrors the baiji's decline, and conservationists race to prevent a second river dolphin extinction.
- A Indo-Pacific finless porpoise
- B Harbour porpoise
- C Yangtze finless porpoise ✓
- D Vaquita
The Yangtze finless porpoise (jiang tun) is distinguished by its lack of a dorsal fin, giving it a rounded, dolphin-like appearance. Its population crash from boat traffic, dams and pollution mirrors the baiji's decline, and conservationists race to prevent a second river dolphin extinction.