Dolphins and Porpoises
Facts
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Habitats
Oceans and freshwater rivers
Dolphins and porpoises delight us with their playful antics and warm our hearts with their friendly faces. Marine species are the most well-known, but there are several species that live in freshwater rivers. All are air-breathing, warm-blooded mammals that nurse their young. The difference between a dolphin and a porpoise has to do with their appearance: dolphins have longer snouts, bigger mouths, more curved dorsal fins, and longer, leaner bodies than porpoises.
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- Habitats
Indus river dolphin numbers on the rise with the help of local communities
A new WWF survey says there are now an estimated 1,816 Indus river in Pakistan—50% more than the 1,200 dolphins estimated after an initial census in 2001 when the species appeared to be on the brink of extinction.
The Dolphins and Porpoises Family
Why They Matter
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Dolphins and porpoises are at the top of the food chain and have an important role in the overall balance of the marine environment. They can tell us a lot about the health of the ocean, such as the presence of pollution or the decline in fish. They are also very popular with tourists.
Related Species
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Sea Turtle
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Vaquita
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Whale Shark
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Dugong
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Humphead Wrasse
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Pacific Salmon
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Whale
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Seals
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Sea Lions
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Marine Iguana
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Tuna
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Bluefin Tuna
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Sei Whale
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Yellowfin Tuna
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Hawksbill Turtle
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Skipjack Tuna
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Great White Shark
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Loggerhead Turtle
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Leatherback Turtle
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Green Turtle
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Olive Ridley Turtle
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Albacore Tuna
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Bigeye Tuna
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North Atlantic Right Whale
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Blue Whale
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Fin Whale
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Bowhead Whale
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Gray Whale
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Hector's Dolphin
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Galápagos Penguin
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Shark
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Polar Bear
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Narwhal
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Beluga
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Giant Panda
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Yangtze Finless Porpoise
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Snow Leopard
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Arctic Wolf
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Brown Bear
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Giant Tortoise
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Amazon River Dolphin
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Irrawaddy Dolphin
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Indus River Dolphin
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Ganges River Dolphin