Sat Mar 10, 2007 5:25 pm
Sat Mar 10, 2007 6:06 pm
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Sat Mar 10, 2007 7:38 pm
Ronald wrote:were they dolphins or porposies ?
Sat Mar 10, 2007 8:01 pm
Wikipedia wrote:Porpoises tend to be smaller but stouter than dolphins. They have small, rounded heads and blunt jaws instead of beaks. While dolphins have a round, bulbous "melon", porpoises do not. Their teeth are spade-shaped, whereas dolphins have conical teeth. In addition, a porpoise's dorsal fin is generally triangular, rather than curved like that of many dolphins and large whales. Some species have small bumps, known as tubercles, on the leading edge of the dorsal fin. The function of these bumps is unknown. [1]
These animals are the smallest cetaceans, reaching body lengths up to 2.5 m (8 feet); the smallest species is the Vaquita, reaching up to 1.5 m (5 feet). In terms of weight the lightest is the Finless Porpoise at 30-45 kg (65-100 lb) and the heaviest is Dall's Porpoise at 130-200kg (280-440 lb). Because of their small size, porpoises lose body heat to the water more rapidly than other cetaceans. Their stout shape, which minimizes surface area, may be an adaptation to reduce heat loss. Thick blubber also insulates them from the cold. The small size of porpoises requires them to eat frequently, rather than depending on fat reserves
Sat Mar 10, 2007 10:44 pm
They looked like dolphins to me. They had the curve fin of the dolphin but they were very dark in colour
Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:41 am