Facts about Finless Porpoise

1. 06

   Finless porpoises in captivity have demonstrated the ability to recognize individual human trainers and respond to specific whistle commands within weeks of training.

   Finless PorpoiseMay 14sharebehaviorcognitioncaptivity
2. 05

   Finless porpoises lack a dorsal fin, instead having a ridge of thickened skin running along their backs that serves a similar stabilization function during swimming.

   Finless PorpoiseMay 14shareanatomyadaptationbiology
3. 04

   Pregnant finless porpoises carry calves for approximately 10-11 months before giving birth to a single offspring, typically during summer months in river systems.

   Finless PorpoiseMay 14sharereproductionbiologylifecycle
4. 03

   Finless porpoises in the Indo-Pacific region measure only 1.5 meters long on average, making them among the smallest cetaceans in the world.

   Finless PorpoiseMay 14sharebiologymeasurementmorphology
5. 02

   Clicking sounds produced by finless porpoises for echolocation can reach frequencies up to 130 kilohertz, allowing them to navigate murky freshwater environments.

   Finless PorpoiseMay 14sharebiologycommunicationsensory
6. 01

   The Yangtze River finless porpoise population declined from approximately 5,000 individuals in the 1970s to fewer than 1,000 by 2020.

   Finless PorpoiseMay 14shareconservationpopulationmeasurement