Editing Yangtze (section)

===Other animals===
[[File:ChineseAlligator15.JPG|thumb|The critically endangered [[Chinese alligator]] is one of the smallest [[crocodilia]]ns, reaching a maximum length of about {{convert|2|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}.<ref>Xing, J.H. (2010). [http://www.iucncsg.org/365_docs/attachments/protarea/02_A-aae9ca58.pdf "Chinese Alligator ''Alligator sinensis''".] Pp. 5–9 in: Manolis, S.C., and Stevenson, C., eds. (2010). ''Crocodiles. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan''. Third Edition. IUCN/SSC Crocodile Specialist Group: Darwin. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073748/http://www.iucncsg.org/365_docs/attachments/protarea/02_A-aae9ca58.pdf |date=March 4, 2016 }}.</ref>]]
Due to commercial use of the river, tourism, and pollution, the Yangtze is home to several seriously threatened species of large animals (in addition to fish): the [[Yangtze finless porpoise|narrow-ridged finless porpoise]], [[baiji]] (Yangtze river dolphin), [[Chinese alligator]], [[Yangtze giant softshell turtle]] and [[Chinese giant salamander]]. This is the only other place besides the United States that is native to an alligator and paddlefish species. In 2010, the Yangtze population of finless porpoise was 1000 individuals. In December 2006, the Yangtze river dolphin was declared [[functionally extinct]] after an extensive search of the river revealed no signs of the dolphin's inhabitance.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Chinese river dolphin was functionally extinct |url=http://www.baiji.org/expeditions/1.html |publisher=baiji.org |date=December 13, 2006 |access-date=December 13, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104192730/http://www.baiji.org/expeditions/1.html |archive-date=January 4, 2007}}</ref> In 2007, a large, white animal was sighted and photographed in the lower Yangtze and was tentatively presumed to be a ''baiji''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sciencemode.com/2007/09/02/river-dolphin-thought-to-be-extinct-spotted-again-in-china/ |title=Sciencemode.com – Home page|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221054321/http://sciencemode.com/2007/09/02/river-dolphin-thought-to-be-extinct-spotted-again-in-china/|archive-date=December 21, 2007}}</ref> However, as there have been no confirmed sightings since 2004, the ''baiji'' is presumed to be functionally extinct at this time.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6935343.stm Rare river dolphin 'now extinct'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828210609/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6935343.stm |date=August 28, 2012 }}. BBC News.</ref> "Baijis were the last surviving species of a large lineage dating back seventy million years and one of only six species of freshwater dolphins." It has been argued that the extinction of the Yangtze river dolphin was a result of the completion of the Three Gorges Dam, a project that has affected many species of animals and plant life found only in the gorges area.<ref>Ellen Wohl, [A World of Rivers: Environmental Changes on Ten of the World's Great Rivers], p.287.</ref>

Numerous species of land mammals are found in the Yangtze valley, but most of these are not directly associated with the river. Three exceptions are the semi-aquatic [[Eurasian otter]], [[water deer]] and [[Père David's deer]].<ref>Smith, A.T.; and Xie, Y. (2008). ''A Guide to the Mammals of China''. Princeton University Press, New Jersey. {{ISBN|978-0-691-09984-2}}</ref>

[[File:2009 Andrias davidianus.JPG|thumb|The entirely aquatic [[Chinese giant salamander]] is the world's largest amphibian, reaching up to {{convert|1.8|m|ft|abbr=on}} in length.<ref name=AmphWebAndrias/>]]
In addition to the very large and exceptionally rare Yangtze giant softshell turtle, several smaller turtle species are found in the Yangtze basin, its [[Yangtze River Delta|delta]] and valleys. These include the [[Chinese box turtle]], [[yellow-headed box turtle]], [[Pan's box turtle]], [[Yunnan box turtle]], [[yellow pond turtle]], [[Chinese pond turtle]], [[Chinese stripe-necked turtle]] and [[Chinese softshell turtle]], which all are considered threatened.<ref>van Dijk, P.P.; Iverson, J.B.; Rhodin, A.G.J.; Shaffer, H.B.; and Bour, R. (2014). ''[http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/wp-content/uploads/file/Accounts/crm_5_000_checklist_v7_2014.pdf Turtles of the World, 7th Edition: Annotated Checklist of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution with Maps, and Conservation Status.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715003512/http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/wp-content/uploads/file/Accounts/crm_5_000_checklist_v7_2014.pdf |date=July 15, 2014}}'' IUCN/SSC [[Turtle Taxonomy Working Group]].</ref>

More than 160 [[amphibian]] species are known from the Yangtze basin, including the world's largest, the critically endangered Chinese giant salamander.<ref name=WWFYangtze>WWF Global: ''[http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/about_freshwater/freshwater_problems/river_decline/10_rivers_risk/yangtze/ Yangtze River.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210091429/http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/about_freshwater/freshwater_problems/river_decline/10_rivers_risk/yangtze/ |date=December 10, 2017 }}'' Retrieved November 12, 2015.</ref> It has declined drastically due to hunting (it is considered a [[Chinese cuisine|delicacy]]), habitat loss and pollution.<ref name=AmphWebAndrias>AmphibiaWeb (2013). ''[http://amphibiaweb.org/cgi-bin/amphib_query?table=amphib&special=one_record&where-genus=Andrias&where-species=davidianus Andrias davidianus.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927113136/http://amphibiaweb.org/cgi-bin/amphib_query?table=amphib&special=one_record&where-genus=Andrias&where-species=davidianus |date=September 27, 2011 }}'' Retrieved November 13, 2015.</ref> The polluted [[Dian Lake]], which is part of the upper Yangtze watershed (via [[Pudu River]]), is home to several highly threatened fish, but was also home to the [[Yunnan lake newt]]. This newt has not been seen since 1979 and is considered extinct.<ref>{{cite iucn |author=IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group |date=2020 |title=''Cynops wolterstorffi'' |volume=2020 |page=e.T59445A63869216 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T59445A63869216.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref><ref name=ThreatenedAmphibians>Stuart, S.; Hoffman, M.; Chanson, J.; Cox, N.; Berridge, R.; Ramani, P., and Young, B. (2008). ''Threatened Amphibians of the World''. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. {{ISBN|978-84-96553-41-5}}</ref> In contrast, the [[Chinese fire belly newt]] from the lower Yangtze basin is one of the few Chinese salamander species to remain common and it is considered [[least concern]] by the IUCN.<ref name=ThreatenedAmphibians/><ref>{{cite iucn |author=IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group |date=2020 |title=''Cynops orientalis'' |volume=2020 |page=e.T59442A63868627 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T59442A63868627.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref><ref>AmphibiaWeb (2008). ''[http://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?where-genus=Cynops&where-species=orientalis Cynops orientalis .] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025114028/http://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?where-genus=Cynops&where-species=orientalis |date=October 25, 2010 }}'' Retrieved November 12, 2015.</ref>

[[File:EriocheirSinensis1.jpg|thumb|The [[Chinese mitten crab]] is a commercially important species in the Yangtze,<ref name=Wang2003/> but [[Invasive species|invasive]] in other parts of the world.<ref name=Eriocheir2007/>]]
The Yangtze basin contains a large number of [[freshwater crab]] species, including several endemics.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Neil Cumberlidge | first1 = N. | last2 = Ng | first2 = P.K.L. | last3 = Yeo | first3 = D.C.J. | last4 = Naruse | first4 = T. | last5 = Meyer | first5 = K.S. | last6 = Esser | first6 = L.J. | year = 2011 | title = Diversity, endemism and conservation of the freshwater crabs of China (Brachyura: Potamidae and Gecarcinucidae) | journal = Integrative Zoology | volume = 6 | issue = 1| pages = 45–55 | doi = 10.1111/j.1749-4877.2010.00228.x | pmid = 21392361 }}</ref> A particularly rich genus in the river basin is the [[Potamidae|potamid]] ''[[Sinopotamon]]''.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Fang | first1 = F. | last2 = Sun | first2 = H. | last3 = Zhao | first3 = Q. | last4 = Lin | first4 = C. | last5 = Sun | first5 = Y. | last6 = Gao | first6 = W. | last7 = Xu | first7 = J. | last8 = Zhou | first8 = J. | last9 = Ge | first9 = F. | last10 = Liu | first10 = N. | year = 2013 | title = Patterns of diversity, areas of endemism, and multiple glacial refuges for freshwater crabs of the genus Sinopotamon in China (Decapoda: Brachyura: Potamidae) | journal = PLOS ONE | volume =  8| issue = 1| page =  e53143| doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0053143 | pmid = 23308152 | pmc = 3537761 | bibcode = 2013PLoSO...853143F | doi-access = free }}</ref> The [[Chinese mitten crab]] is catadromous (migrates between fresh and saltwater) and it has been recorded up to {{convert|1400|km|mi|abbr=on}} up the Yangtze, which is the largest river in its native range.<ref name=Eriocheir2007>Veilleux, É; and de Lafontaine, Y. (2007). ''Biological Synopsis of the Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis)''. Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2812.</ref> It is a commercially important species in its native range where it is farmed,<ref name=Wang2003>{{cite journal | last1 = Wang | first1 = H.-Z. | last2 = Wang | first2 = H.-J. | last3 = Liang | first3 = X.-M. | last4 = Cui | first4 = Y.-D. | year = 2003 | title = Stocking models of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir japonica sinensis) in Yangtze lakes. | url = http://ir.ihb.ac.cn/handle/152342/8948 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200318110423/http://ir.ihb.ac.cn/handle/152342/8948 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2020-03-18 | journal = Aquaculture | volume = 255 | issue = 1 | pages = 456–465 | doi = 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2006.01.005 }}</ref> but the Chinese mitten crab has also been spread to Europe and North America where considered [[Invasive species|invasive]].<ref name=Eriocheir2007/>

The freshwater jellyfish ''[[Craspedacusta sowerbii]]'', now an invasive species in large parts of the world, originates from the Yangtze.<ref name = NOBANIS>{{cite web|url=http://www.nobanis.org/files/factsheets/Craspedacusta_sowerbyi.pdf |title=NOBANIS – Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet – ''Craspedacusta sowerbyi'' |last=Didžiulis |first=Viktoras |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517210230/http://www.nobanis.org/files/factsheets/Craspedacusta_sowerbyi.pdf |archive-date=May 17, 2014 |url-status=live |access-date=September 28, 2016 }}</ref>