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…


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,…


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…


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…