PLOS ONE (2017)
Complex foldings of the vaginal wall are unique to some cetaceans and artiodactyls and are of unknown function(s). The patterns of vaginal length and cumulative vaginal fold length were assessed…
The evolution of genital shape variation in female cetaceans
Orbach, Dara N.; Hedrick, Brandon; Würsig, Bernd; Mesnick, Sarah L.; Brennan, Patricia L. R.
Evolution (2017)
Male genital diversification is likely the result of sexual selection. Female genital diversification may also result from sexual selection, although it is less well studied and understood. Female genitalia are…
Coming of age: Do female harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the North Sea and Baltic Sea have sufficient time to reproduce in a human influenced environment?
Kesselring, Tina; Viquerat, Sacha; Brehm, Ralph; Siebert, Ursula
PLOS ONE (2017)
The harbour porpoise is the only cetacean species native to German waters. Since human pressures are suggested to shorten their reproductive lifespan, basic knowledge on reproduction is strongly required. One…
Ultrasonography of mammary glands in finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) at different reproductive stages
Zeng, Xianyuan; Huang, Shiang-Lin; Hao, Yujiang; Wang, Ding; Ji, Junhua; Deng, Xiaojun; Nabi, Ghulam
Marine Mammal Science (2017)
...The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis), endemic to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the adjoining Poyang and Dongting lakes (Gao and Zhou 1993), is…
COSEWIC assessment and status report on the harbour porpoise (Pacific Ocean population) Phocoena phocoena vomerina in Canada
Hall, A.; Heise, K.
COSEWIC Status Reports (2017)
Wildlife Species Description and Significance The Pacific Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena vomerina) is the smallest cetacean in British Columbia (BC), ranging from 1.5 to 1.6 m and 45 to 60…
Genital interactions during simulated copulation among marine mammals
Orbach, Dara N.; Kelly, Diane A.; Solano, Mauricio; Brennan, Patricia L. R.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2017)
Genitalia are morphologically variable across many taxa and in physical contact during intromission, but little is known about how variation in form correlates with function during copulation. Marine mammals offer…
Characterization of milk composition in narrow-ridged finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) at different lactation stages
Zeng, Xianyuan; Huang, Shiang-lin; Qian, Zhengyi; Hao, Yujiang; Wang, Ding; Ji, Junhua; Nabi, Ghulam
Marine Mammal Science (2017)
Lactation plays a vital role in reproductive success, evolving with ecological adaptations of mammalian life histories. Knowledge of the lactation process in odontocetes is scarce and limited to a handful…
Parentage-based group composition and dispersal pattern studies of the Yangtze finless porpoise population in Poyang Lake
Chen, Minmin; Zheng, Yang; Hao, Yujiang; Mei, Zhigang; Wang, Kexiong; Zhao, Qingzhong; Zheng, Jinsong; Wang, Ding
International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2016)
Social behaviors are poorly known for the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (YFP, Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis). Here, group composition and dispersal patterns of the YFP population living in the Poyang…
Exploitation of coastal fish communities by harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena during nursing periods in German Baltic waters
Pinzone, M.; Michel, L. N.; Gallus, A.; Brundiers, K.; Sturaro, N.; Andreasen, H.; Dähne, M.; Lepoint, G.; Siebert, U.; Das, K.; Benke, H.
Zoology Conference 2017 (2016)
The increased number of juvenile and newborn harbour porpoise strandings along the German Baltic coasts in summer provides evidence for a possible local calving and nursing ground in this area.…
Saving the Yangtze finless porpoise: Time is rapidly running out
Huang, Shiang-Lin; Mei, Zhigang; Hao, Yujiang; Zheng, Jinsong; Wang, Kexiong; Wang, Ding
Biological Conservation (2016)
The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) is the world's only freshwater porpoise and is endemic to the Yangtze River. However, it is now Critically Endangered, with its long-term survival…