Porpoises (/ ˈ p ɔː r p ə s ɪ z /) are small dolphin-like cetaceans classified under the family Phocoenidae. Although similar in appearance to dolphins, they are more closely related to narwhals and belugas than to the true dolphins. [1] There are eight extant species of porpoise, all among the smallest of the toothed whales.

People use the terms dolphins, porpoises, and whales to describe marine mammals belonging to the order Cetacea (from the Greek work ketos, “large sea creature”), and often use them interchangeably. The orca, or killer whale, for example, is actually the largest member of …

2025年2月16日 · porpoise, (family Phocoenidae), specifically, any of seven species of toothed whales distinguishable from dolphins by their more compact build, generally smaller size (maximum length about 2 metres, or 6.6 feet), and curved blunt snout with spatulate rather than conical teeth. In North America the name is sometimes applied to dolphins.

Porpoises are small, toothed whales, similar in shape to dolphins, but more closely related to their Arctic cousins. This creature probably has the highest joke-to-humour ratio of any animal on earth.

Porpoises hunt fast-moving fish, squid, and other sea creatures. They have blubber to keep them warm, a single blowhole, and most have a dorsal fin and countershading camouflage which means they are darker on their back than their belly.

2024年11月20日 · Porpoises are small aquatic mammals from the cetacean family Phocoenidae that fall within a large group of toothed whales, Odontoceti. Often confused with dolphins, porpoises have several distinct traits.

2017年5月10日 · Porpoises are a unique type of cetacean that are in the family Phocoenidae. Porpoises are generally small animals (no species grows longer than about 8 feet) with robust bodies, blunt snouts and spade-shaped teeth.

2015年3月24日 · Harbor porpoises have a small, robust body with a short, blunt beak and a medium-sized triangular dorsal fin. Their back is dark gray fading to lighter intermediate shades of gray on their sides. Their belly and throat are white, with a dark gray chin patch. Females are slightly larger than males.

The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is one of eight extant species of porpoise.It is one of the smallest species of cetacean.As its name implies, it stays close to coastal areas or river estuaries, and as such, is the most familiar porpoise to whale watchers.This porpoise often ventures up rivers, and has been seen hundreds of kilometres from the sea.

Dolphins and porpoises are cetaceans — marine mammals — that are closely related to whales. Dolphins belong to the Delphinidae family and are up to 30 feet long. Porpoises, belonging to the Phocoenidae family, are smaller and stouter, with other anatomical differences.