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River - Freshwater
Fish of the Yangtze River
The longest river in Asia - historically home to the Chinese paddlefish, Yangtze finless porpoise, and hundreds of endemic species now threatened by Three Gorges Dam and pollution.
Continent: Asia Area: 1,800,000 km² Max Depth: 200m Climate: Temperate
📖 Overview
The Yangtze once hosted the largest freshwater fish in Asia - Chinese paddlefish (Psephurus gladius) up to 7 meters, declared functionally extinct in 2020. The Three Gorges Dam (2003) fundamentally altered the rivers ecology, blocking migration routes and altering flows. Chinese carps that dominate global aquaculture - grass carp, silver carp, bighead carp, black carp - all originate from the Yangtze system.
🐟 Notable Species
Chinese paddlefish (extinct), Chinese sturgeon (critically endangered), Yangtze finless porpoise, four Chinese major carps (silver, bighead, grass, black).
🔗 Nearby & Similar Regions