Porpoise

Porpoises are a group of fully aquatic marine mammals that are sometimes referred to as mereswine, all of which are classified under the family Phocoenidae, parvorder Odontoceti (toothed whales). There are six extant species of porpoise. They are small toothed whales that are very closely related to oceanic dolphins. The most obvious visible difference between the two groups is that porpoises have shorter beaks and flattened, spade-shaped teeth distinct from the conical teeth of dolphins. For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry. Get back to Toothed whales
Dall's porpoise	Finless porpoise
Vaquita	Yangtze finless porpoise

phylum	Chordata	Dall's porpoise is found only in the North Pacific. It came to worldwide attention in the 1970s when it was disclosed for the first time to the public that salmon fishing trawls were killing thousands of Dall's porpoises and other cetaceans each year by accidentally capturing them in their nets. The unique body shape of Dall's porpoise makes it easily distinguishable from other cetacean species. The animal has a very thick body and a small head. The colouration is rather like that of a killer whale; the main body of the porpoise is very dark grey to black creeper, with very demarcated white patches on the flank and belly. For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry. Get back to Porpoises
class	Mammalia
infraclass	Eutheria
order	Cetacea
suborder	Odontoceti
family	Phocoenidae
genus	Phocoenoides
species	P. dalli

phylum	Chordata	The finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) is one of six porpoise species. It lives in the coastal waters of Asia, especially around Korea, India, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Japan. A freshwater population found in the Yangtze River in China is known locally as the jiangtun (江豚) or "river porpoise". In the waters around Japan, at the northern end of its range, it is known as the sunameri. The finless porpoise almost completely lacks a dorsal fin. Instead there is a low ridge covered in thick denticulated skin. For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry. Get back to Porpoises
class	Mammalia
infraclass	Eutheria
order	Cetacea
suborder	Odontoceti
family	Phocoenidae
genus	Neophocaena
species	N. phocaenoides

phylum	Chordata	The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is a rare species of porpoise endemic to the northern part of the Gulf of California. Since the baiji (Lipotes vexillifer) is believed to have gone extinct by 2006, the vaquita has taken on the title of the most endangered cetacean in the world. It is listed as critically endangered because the estimated number of individuals dropped below 100 in 2014, putting it in imminent danger of extinction. That number was updated to approximately 60 in May 2016, leading to the conclusion that the species is headed for extinction within 5 years unless further conservation efforts are undertaken. For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry. Get back to Porpoises
class	Mammalia
infraclass	Eutheria
order	Cetacea
suborder	Odontoceti
family	Phocoenidae
genus	Phocoena
species	P. sinus

phylum	Chordata	The Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia, used to be one of the only two rivers in the world that was home to two different species of dolphin—the Yangtze finless porpoise and the Baiji dolphin. The Yangtze finless porpoise, is known for its mischievous smile and has a level of intelligence comparable to that of a gorilla. It is the only species of freshwater Porpoise on the planet. Length: 6.2 Feet/ 2 meters. For more information, visit the WWF entry. Get back to Porpoises
class	Mammalia
infraclass	Eutheria
order	Cetacea
suborder	Odontoceti
family	Phocoenidae
genus	Neophocaena
species	N. asiaeorientalis

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