|
|
How
do you tell a dolphin from a porpoise? These two mammals are easy to
confuse. Then how do you know? One way to tell them apart is to look at
their beaks. Dolphins usually have beaks,
porpoises do not. What's a beak? A beak is like a
snout, only longer. Dolphins also have more noticeable dorsal
fins.
Another way to find out can only be used if you get close enough to the
dolphin or porpoise. Check their teeth! A porpoise's tooth is in the shape
of a spade, while a dolphin's tooth is more in the shape of a spike. One of
the dolphins that is easily confused as a porpoise is the Irrawaddy
Dolphin. This is due to the fact that it has barely any beak. Other
dolphins to watch out for is the Hourglass
Dolphin, the Dusky Dolphin, the
Peale's Dolphin, the Pacific
White-sided
Dolphin, Atlantic White-sided
Dolphin, Fraser's
Dolphin, Southern White
Whale Dolphin ( no beak or dorsal
fin ) Northern Right Wale
Dolphin ( also no beak nor dorsal fin) Hector's
Dolphin, Heavisides
Dolphin, Chilean Dolphin, and the
Comersons Dolphin. |
|
Comparison
Chart |
|
DOLPHIN
|
PORPOISE |
|
BEAKS
|
|
Have
beaks
|
Do not have
Beaks
|
|
DORSAL
FINS
|
|
Larger
than porpoise
|
Smaller than
dolphin
|
|
TEETH
|
|
Shape
of a spike
|
Shape of a
spade
|
|
