Aquatic and Land Animal DiversityAquatic Mammals |
What is the difference between porpoises and dolphins? |
Marine dolphins (family Delphinidae) and porpoises (family Phocoenidae) together comprise about forty species. The chief differences between dolphins and porpoises occur in the snout and teeth: True dolphins have a beaklike snout and cone-shaped teeth, while true porpoises have a rounded snout and flat or spade-shaped teeth.

A dolphin (top) is most easily distinguished from a porpoise (bottom) by its beaklike snout versus the rounded snout of the porpoise.