Dolphin or Porpoise?

Luna

Luna

Sea Shell Goddess
Please help settle an "disaggement": In the Sea of Cortez, are they dolphin or porpise?

One believes dophin are only in the Atlantic and porposie are in the Pacific.
The other believes the difference is in the shape of their nose.

Discuss?
 
mexicoruss

mexicoruss

Lovin it in RP!
Both porpoise and dolphin reside in the sea of Cortes' along with the endangered Vaquita Marina which is a mammal resembling the porpoise however much smaller and with a unique body structure. Only about 250 Vaquitas are still alive and the only place they live is the upper sea of Cortes'
 
Landshark

Landshark

Guest
Dolphins are marine mammals closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from 1.2 m (4 ft) and 40 kg (90 lb) (Maui's dolphin), up to 9.5 m (30 ft) and 10 tonnes (9.8 long tons; 11 short tons) (the orca or killer whale). They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves and are carnivores, eating mostly fish and squid.

Porpoises (/ˈpɔrpəs/; also called mereswine) are small cetaceans of the family Phocoenidae; they are related to whales and dolphins. They are distinct from dolphins, although the word "porpoise" has been used to refer to any small dolphin, especially by sailors and fishermen. The most obvious visible difference between the two groups is that porpoises have shorter beaks and flattened, spade-shaped teeth distinct from the conical teeth of dolphins.


The Bottle nose Dolphin is one of the Sea of Cortez's most prolific species of dolphin. They are often seen on a daily basis in pod sizes from 10-250 at a time. They grow from up to 4 meters and can get up to 650 kg (1430 lbs). They live up to 40 years and have been known to rescue sailors and swimmers in danger.
 
Luna

Luna

Sea Shell Goddess
"The Bottle nose Dolphin is one of the Sea of Cortez's most prolific species of dolphin. They are often seen on a daily basis in pod sizes from 10-250 at a time. They grow from up to 4 meters and can get up to 650 kg (1430 lbs). They live up to 40 years and have been known to rescue sailors and swimmers in danger."
Click to expand...
OK - Dolphin it was! We saw several pods of 6 to maybe 20 or so, impossible to tell from the balcony and they would not stop so we could count.
Anyway - It was AWESOME to see them. Wish we had access to a kayak . . .
 
tequilatodd

tequilatodd

Guest
I had the same experience on a Mex Riviera cruise once. I have heard its like recreation for them. Makes them happy.
 
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