12/25/2023 0 Comments Small dolphin fish![]() ![]() Both have large, complex brains and a structure in their foreheads, called the melon, with which they focus sound waves used to navigate their underwater world. ![]() Scientists are pretty sure that porpoises do not do this, and some think this may be due to structural differences in the porpoise’s blowhole.ĭolphins and porpoises have many similarities, one of which is their extreme intelligence. Dolphins make whistling sounds through their blowholes to communicate with one another underwater. Generally speaking, dolphin bodies are leaner, and porpoises’ are portly.ĭolphins are also more talkative than porpoises. The dolphin’s hooked or curved dorsal fin (the one in the middle of the animal’s back) also differs from the porpoise’s triangular dorsal fin. Dolphins tend to have prominent, elongated “beaks” and cone-shaped teeth, while porpoises have smaller mouths and spade-shaped teeth. So what’s the difference? It essentially comes down to their faces (who can forget Flipper’s famous “grin”?), their fins, and their figures. Most scientists agree that there are 32 dolphin species (plus five closely related species of river dolphin) and only six porpoise species. The orca, or killer whale, for example, is actually the largest member of the dolphin family.ĭolphins are by far more prevalent than porpoises. 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 dorsal fin is small and triangle-shaped. The harbor porpoise has small pointed flippers and no beak. ![]()
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