The Yellow River, known in China as the Huang He, is one of the world’s longest river systems, stretching over 5,464 kilometers across northern China. Recognized as the “Cradle of Chinese Civilization,” this massive waterway supports a basin population of over 420 million people. Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains and flowing through the Loess Plateau, the river creates a complex and diverse range of aquatic and terrestrial habitats. This ecosystem sustains a wide array of animal life, including fully aquatic species, riparian mammals, and migratory birds.
Fish and Aquatic Invertebrates
The Yellow River basin is home to over 160 native fish species, with a notable concentration of endemic fauna found nowhere else. Freshwater fishes from the order Cypriniformes, including carps and minnows, are the most dominant group. These species are highly adapted to the river’s high sediment load, which gives the river its characteristic yellow color.
The Yellow River scaleless carp, Gymnocypris eckloni, is a historically significant resident that thrives in the colder, high-altitude upper reaches. Other endemic fish include the rare Atrilinea macrolepis and the salmonid Hucho taimen, a large predator found in colder tributaries. Species distribution varies; the upper river features specialized fish like snowtrout, while lower, slower sections support carps, loaches, and catfish, such as the Yellow catfish (Tachysurus fulvidraco).
Aquatic invertebrates form the base of the river’s food web. Native mollusks, such as the freshwater mussel Hyriopsis cumingii, play an important role in filtering the water. The lower reaches and the Yellow River Delta, where the river meets the Bohai Sea, host a significant diversity of marine-influenced crustaceans and mollusks, including crabs and shrimp. These invertebrates are a primary food source for many fish and avian species.
Amphibians and Reptiles of the River Basin
Amphibians and reptiles in the Yellow River basin are typically semi-aquatic, relying on the river edges, backwaters, and surrounding wetlands for survival and reproduction. Amphibians, such as native frogs and toads, must return to the water to lay eggs, with larval stages developing within the river’s margins or nearby ponds. The health of these populations acts as a sensitive indicator for the quality of the water and the riparian zone.
The basin supports native reptile species. The Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is a well-known inhabitant, often found basking on riverbanks or burrowing in the muddy substrate. Its presence indicates a stable wetland habitat. The Chinese pond turtle is another native chelonian that utilizes the slow-moving sections and peripheral lakes of the river system.
Avian Life and Riparian Mammals
The Yellow River is a geographically significant path for avian life, particularly where it expands into vast delta wetlands at its mouth. The Delta is a crucial stopover site along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, attracting hundreds of bird species during migration. This area is a haven for numerous waterfowl, wading birds, and raptors.
Notable avian residents include the globally endangered Red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) and the Scaly-sided (Chinese) merganser (Mergus squamatus), which depend on the wetlands for nesting and foraging. The delta region alone supports over 370 bird species, including the critically endangered Yellow-breasted bunting (Emberiza aureola). The variety of geese, ducks, and egrets using the river’s sandbars and reed beds contributes to the basin’s high biodiversity.
Riparian mammals use the river’s banks for shelter, foraging, or drinking. The Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra), though significantly reduced in population, is the primary semi-aquatic mammal, feeding on fish, amphibians, and crustaceans. In the higher-altitude stretches, large ungulates rely on the water, including the Chiru (Tibetan antelope) and the Wild yak. Further downriver, the Chinese forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) and Sikas deer visit the river to drink and forage in the riparian vegetation.
Conservation Status of Yellow River Fauna
The Yellow River fauna faces substantial threats stemming from human activity throughout the basin. The construction of dams and cascade hydropower projects fragments the river, disrupting migratory routes for fish species and altering natural flow regimes. Over-exploitation of water resources for agriculture and industry has also led to periods where the lower river ran dry, severely impacting aquatic habitats.
Pollution from industrial discharge and agricultural runoff continues to pose a problem, despite recent improvements in water quality reaching Class II in the main stream in 2022 and 2023. These pollutants directly affect sensitive fauna like the Eurasian Otter and amphibian populations. Invasive aquatic species also compete with native fish and invertebrates, displacing them from their ecological niches.
Conservation efforts have yielded success, demonstrated by the significant increase in bird species observed in the Yellow River Delta wetlands. The re-establishment of ecological flows and fishing bans have allowed the reappearance of some formerly rare or endangered fish, such as Coilia nasus, in the lower reaches. Protecting the remaining habitat is crucial for the survival of endemic fish and diverse migratory bird populations.