Baiji (Lipotes vexillifer)
The Baiji is not extinct yet. Early in January of this year, the rare river dolphin was proclaimed extinct. After an extensive and fruitless search of the polluted Yangtze River in China, the dolphin's sole habitat, scientists gave up hope. Now, a digital video has provided evidence that at least one Baiji may survive in a small section of river. Although efforts may be made to capture and transport any remaining dolphins, scientists warn that extinction is still almost the guaranteed outcome--even if a few dolphins still survive, with such low numbers, a comeback is highly unlikely.
National Geographic News Article
Showing posts with label Extinct. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Extinct. Show all posts
09 September 2007
22 February 2007
In Memory of: the Gastric Brooding Frogs
Northern Gastric Brooding Frog (Rheobatrachus vitellinus)
Southern Gastric Brooding Frog (Rheobatrachus silus)
The Gastric Brooding Frogs were unique. No other frogs like them are known. Little known or undiscovered until the 1970s and 80s, both species had died off by 1985. These two extinct Australian frogs didn't raise their young in the usual way. While most frogs mate, and then lay their eggs in or near water and allow them to hatch, Gastric Brooding Frog females, as their name suggests, swallowed the fertilised eggs, and allowed them to develop in her stomach. The eggs, and then the tadpoles, lived off of yolk, and both produced a hormone which prevented the mother's stomach from producing digestive acids. During this period, the mother didn't eat, but remained active. Once the babies completed their metaorphosis from tadpole to frog, the mother regurgitated them, and they hopped out of her mouth, fully formed. Unfortunately, not much more is known about them.
So sad to see you go, crazy frogs.
Southern Gastric Brooding Frog (Rheobatrachus silus)
The Gastric Brooding Frogs were unique. No other frogs like them are known. Little known or undiscovered until the 1970s and 80s, both species had died off by 1985. These two extinct Australian frogs didn't raise their young in the usual way. While most frogs mate, and then lay their eggs in or near water and allow them to hatch, Gastric Brooding Frog females, as their name suggests, swallowed the fertilised eggs, and allowed them to develop in her stomach. The eggs, and then the tadpoles, lived off of yolk, and both produced a hormone which prevented the mother's stomach from producing digestive acids. During this period, the mother didn't eat, but remained active. Once the babies completed their metaorphosis from tadpole to frog, the mother regurgitated them, and they hopped out of her mouth, fully formed. Unfortunately, not much more is known about them.
So sad to see you go, crazy frogs.
31 January 2007
Say it Ain't So
Baiji (Lipotes vexillifer)
The Baiji, also known as the Chinese River Dolphin or the Yangtze River Dolphin, may already be extinct. I don't know what else to say. I'm sitting here, slightly stunned, and hoping that the expedition, which searched for six weeks and found no dolphins, might have missed a few. Enough that the population could still survive. I guess all I can do is keep hoping, and keep working. This might be old news to some who have been following this species closely, but I have just started to learn about this species.
Read articles here or in Wikipedia.
Donate to the EDGE project to try to locate and save any remaining Baiji.
The Baiji, also known as the Chinese River Dolphin or the Yangtze River Dolphin, may already be extinct. I don't know what else to say. I'm sitting here, slightly stunned, and hoping that the expedition, which searched for six weeks and found no dolphins, might have missed a few. Enough that the population could still survive. I guess all I can do is keep hoping, and keep working. This might be old news to some who have been following this species closely, but I have just started to learn about this species.
Read articles here or in Wikipedia.
Donate to the EDGE project to try to locate and save any remaining Baiji.
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