What Is The Difference Between A Dolphin And A Porpoise

While dolphins have elongated mouths or beaks porpoises have shorter smaller grins according to the national oceanic and atmospheric administration noaa.

There are a number of diferences between the two species. Pod sizes are not limited and differ between locations and species. Dolphins are highly social and commune in pods of up to 12 dolphins. One of the major differences between dolphins and porpoises is how many species each have.

Dolphins and porpoises differ in their faces fins and body shapes. Porpoises are generally smaller than dolphins. Dolphins are long and have a distinct pronounced beak while porpoises do not. With the exception of the finless porpoise they have a triangular dorsal fin whereas most dolphins have a sickle shaped fin.

The dorsal fin on a on a porpoise is smaller and more triangular than those found on a dolphin. Scientists agree there are 32 species of dolphin whereas there are only 6 species of porpoise. 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. What s the difference between dolphins and porpoises.

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The primary differences between dolphins and porpoises are anatomical. Externally one can tell the difference between the two animals by looking at the head and dorsal fins. Behavioral differences between a dolphin and a porpoise dolphins communicate more than porpoises do by making whistling noises intended for each other. The smallest toothed whale is the vaquita an extremely endangered species that only grows to about four feet and 120 pounds.

The primary way of distinguishing a porpoise from a dolphin is by their nose mouth dolphins usually have much longer snouts than porpoises do. 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 also have different teeth. Dolphins usually have a beak that makes them appear long nosed while porpoises do not have a beak and thus appear more flat faced.

And if you ever get a chance to. Dolphins have larger mouths overall have dorsal fins with sharper curves and are generally leaner and more aerodynamic looking than porpoises. If you judge a dolphin only by its beak you miss these counterexamples identified by zoologists as dolphins. As for porpoises the dall s porpoise phocoenoides dalliis is also seen in our pacific waters and likewise has no beak.

Dolphins tend to have a sleeker more streamlined body shape than porpoises.