Predation by killer whales (Orcinus orca) and the evolution of whistle loss and narrow-band high frequency clicks in odontocetes

Morisaka, T.; Connor, R. C.
Journal of Evolutionary Biology (2007)

A disparate selection of toothed whales (Odontoceti) share striking features of their acoustic repertoires including the absence of whistles and high frequency but weak (low peak-to-peak source level) clicks that…


Timing of epiphyseal development in the flipper skeleton of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) as an indicator of paedomorphosis

Galatius, Anders; Andersen, Mai-Britt Elin Rindom; Haugan, Birgitte; Langhoff, Heidi Elisabeth; Jespersen, Åse
Acta Zoologica (2006)

Epiphyseal development was investigated on X-rays of flippers from 158 harbour porpoises from Danish waters. Development followed a proximodistal pattern similar to what is known in other cetacean species. Ossification…


The phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of true porpoises (Mammalia: Phocoenidae) based on morphological data

Fajardo-Mellor, Liliana; Berta, Annalisa; Brownell, Robert L.; Boy, Claudia C.; Goodall, R. Natalie P.
Marine Mammal Sci (2006)

Prior studies of phylogenetic relationships among phocoenids based on morphology and molecular sequence data conflict and yield unresolved relationships among species. This study evaluates a comprehensive set of cranial, postcranial,…


Evolution, taxonomy and antitropical distributions of the porpoises (Phocoenidae, Mammalia)

Barnes, Lawrence G.
Marine Mammal Sci (1985)

True porpoises are a morphologically distinctive and evolutionarily old group of odontocete cetaceans classified as the family Phocoenidae. They are distinct from members of the family Delphinidae, with which they…