What Is The Difference Between A Dolphin And A Porpoise

And if you ever get a chance to.

One of the major differences between dolphins and porpoises is how many species each have. The primary differences between dolphins and porpoises are anatomical. Dolphins usually have a beak that makes them appear long nosed while porpoises do not have a beak and thus appear more flat faced. Dolphins and porpoises differ in their faces fins and body shapes.

What s the difference between dolphins and porpoises. Dolphins have longer noses bigger mouths more curved dorsal fins and longer leaner bodies than porpoises the northeastern offshore spotted dolphin shown here has a falcate or sickle shaped dorsal fin and light spotting on the belly. Porpoises are generally smaller than dolphins. Dolphins tend to have a sleeker more streamlined body shape than porpoises.

Behavioral differences between a dolphin and a porpoise dolphins communicate more than porpoises do by making whistling noises intended for each other. Pod sizes are not limited and differ between locations and species. The smallest toothed whale is the vaquita an extremely endangered species that only grows to about four feet and 120 pounds. While dolphins have elongated mouths or beaks porpoises have shorter smaller grins according to the national oceanic and atmospheric administration noaa.

RELATED ARTICLE :

• what is the monomer that makes up a carbohydrate polymer
• what is the longest time someone has held their breath
• what is the major structural difference between starch and glycogen

Dolphins are long and have a distinct pronounced beak while porpoises do not. Scientists agree there are 32 species of dolphin whereas there are only 6 species of porpoise. The two creatures also have different social habits. Though both are highly intelligent creatures dolphins seem to be the more social of the two and live in larger more stable groups.

As for porpoises the dall s porpoise phocoenoides dalliis is also seen in our pacific waters and likewise has no beak. Externally one can tell the difference between the two animals by looking at the head and dorsal fins. Dolphins have larger mouths overall have dorsal fins with sharper curves and are generally leaner and more aerodynamic looking than porpoises. The dorsal fin on a on a porpoise is smaller and more triangular than those found on a dolphin.

Dolphins are also often longer averaging about six to 12 feet in length where porpoises only reach a maximum seven feet in length. If you judge a dolphin only by its beak you miss these counterexamples identified by zoologists as dolphins. They are spade shaped and look much more like our teeth whereas dolphins have cone shaped teeth which looks like an upside down ice cream cone. Dolphins are highly social and commune in pods of up to 12 dolphins.

With the exception of the finless porpoise they have a triangular dorsal fin whereas most dolphins have a sickle shaped fin.