Porpoise
Porpoises are mammals that live in the ocean. They are in the order Cetacea. They form the family Phocoenidae. There are six species of porpoise.
| Porpoises Temporal range: Mid Miocene to Recent | |
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| Phocoena phocoena, Harbour porpoise at the Fjord & Bæltcentret in Denmark | |
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| Family: | Phocoenidae Gray, 1825 |
Taxonomy
- Family Phocoenidae:
- Finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides)
- Vaquita (Phocoena sinus)
- Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
- Burmeister's porpoise (Phocoena spinipinnis)
- Spectacled porpoise (Phocoena dioptrica)
- Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli)
Appearance
Porpoises look much like dolphins, but they are different in some ways: They are smaller and more stout. They have spade-shaped teeth, rounded heads, blunt jaws, and triangular dorsal fins.
Images
Dall's porpoise
A drawing of a Harbour porpoise.
Related pages
Wikispecies has information on: Phocoenidae.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phocoenidae.
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