Finless Porpoise

Sherianne Penner

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Bibliography

 "Finless Porpoise." Finless Porpoise. 13 Dec. 07. Baiji.org foundation. 14 Dec. 2007

     <http://www.baiji.org/in-depth/freshwater-dolphins/species-guide/

     yangtze-finless-porpoise.html>. 

"Common Name:." Finless porpoise Description. WDCS. 10 Dec. 2007 <http://www.wdcs.org/dan/

     publishing.nsf/allweb/D075DD7A5CE31C95802569CF00432DB7>.

 Info

Its Latin Name

Neophocaena phocaenoides

 Some other names of the Finless Porpoise

Black porpoise, Jiangzhu

 Description

Finless porpoises are one of the smallest cetaceans. They are generally shy, apart from those living in the Yangtze River, China. They are similar to Irrawaddy dolphins save for the fact that they don't have fins. They are pale grey-blue in colour with a small mouth that curves slightly upwards and a slight depression behind the blowhole. They are the only porpoises to have a bulbous melon. Instead of a fin, they have a ridge along their backs which runs from above the flippers to the beginning of their tail stock. This ridge is covered in circular wart-like tubercles or bumps.

Length 

When they are born, finless porpoises are between 60 and 90cm (24 - 35in) long. They then grow to an adult size which is only a little bit longer: between 1.2 and 1.9 metres (4ft - 6ft 3in) in length.

 Weight

Newborn finless porpoises weigh about 7kg (15lb), and adults weigh between 30 to 45 kg (65 - 100lb).

Behaviour:

Finless porpoises are quite active animals, usually swimming just beneath the surface with sudden, darting movements. They cause little disturbance when they rise to the surface, and they tend to roll onto their sides when doing so. They have been known to spyhop, but are rarely seen breaching.

Sherianne