How do porpoises use sound?
Porpoises, like all toothed whales (odontocetes) use sound for echolocation and communication. Echolocation allows porpoises to "see" with sound. It…
Category: Frequently Asked Questions
How does ocean pollution affect porpoises?
Many contaminants are lipophilic, meaning that they dissolve in fats (lipids). Porpoises have blubber, a thick layer of fat underneath…
What are mental maps?
Porpoises maintain mental maps, a mental image of their surroundings, which also includes the topography of the ocean floor. They…
What is the difference between porpoises and dolphins?
Porpoises are generally smaller than dolphins. With the exception of the finless porpoise, they have a triangular dorsal fin (whereas…
What makes porpoises interesting to study?
Porpoises are enigmatic little creatures. We know very little about them as they spend most of their lives underneath the…
Why are Dall’s porpoise hunted in Japan?
In Japan, thousands of Dall's porpoise are killed in directed hunts every year. The animals are killed for consumption. As…
Why is by-catch in fishing nets an issue for porpoises?
Accidental by-catch in fishing nets is estimated to kill 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises every year. Porpoises are air-breathing mammals,…