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Family Phocoenidae - porpoises
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Order
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Class
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Mammalia
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No. of Genera in Ref.
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No. of Species in Ref.
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Environment
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Fresh : No |
Brackish : No |
Marine : Yes
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Aquarium
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First Fossil Record
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Remark
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This family includes 6 species worldwide; a single species is known from the Western Central Pacific. Porpoises are small cetaceans of less than 2 m. Among other osteological features, the presence of spatulate teeth is the most important diagnostic character to separate this family from the Delphinidae. In phocoenids the distance between the anus and male genital slit is very long and significantly longer than in all delphinids (Ref. 68590).
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Etymology
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Division
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Reproductive guild
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Typical activity level
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Main Ref.
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Coordinator
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