Mentions of the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise in ancient Chinese poetry have revealed missing information about the habitat of the world’s only freshwater porpoise

Over the last 1,400 years, populations of the Yangtze finless porpoise have dramatically declined in China. But intensive surveys of its range only span the last couple of decades, leaving lots of gaps in scientists’ knowledge of the species.

Experts compiled 724 ancient Chinese poems referencing the porpoise from historic collections across China. The post Ancient Chinese poems reveal 1,400-year decline of iconic aquatic species appeared first on Talker.