East Asian Finless Porpoise

About this species

Size

Usually under 2m

Diet

Fish, squid and crustaceans

Habitat

Shallow coastal waters and estuaries

The East Asian finless porpoise is a small coastal cetacean with a rounded forehead, no beak and no dorsal fin. Instead, a low ridge carrying rows of small tubercles runs along the back. The body is compact and generally grey, becoming paler below. Adults are usually under 2m long; their smooth, finless outline is unmistakable at close range (Wikipedia, general species account).

Across its range, this porpoise uses shallow coastal water, estuaries and the lower reaches of large rivers. It feeds on fish, squid and crustaceans and usually travels alone, in pairs or in small groups. Surfacing is quiet and rolling, so animals can be difficult to detect in rough water. Mothers normally rear a single calf (Wikipedia, general species account). annually.

Description: Wildlife of Japan guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)