Fauna
Mammal

Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoise

Neophocaena phocaenoides

Also known as Finless Porpoise, Black Finless Porpoise

Indo-Pacific finless porpoises inhabit shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and mangrove channels, navigating murky shoals with sophisticated high-frequency echolocation clicks rather than sight. Instead of a dorsal fin, they possess a low ridge of skin peppered with small sensory tubercles along their back. Highly elusive and easily startled, they surface swiftly with minimal disturbance, rarely leaping clear of the water like dolphins.

Marine MammalEcholocatingCoastal
Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoise reference
(c) Cipher01, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySmall Fish, Squid, Shrimp
Predators
  • Tiger Shark
  • Bull Shark
  • Killer Whale
ThreatsBycatch in gillnets, boat collisions, coastal development, acoustic pollution, and habitat degradation
HabitatsShallow coastal marine waters, sheltered bays, estuaries, and mangrove channels
Life span20–25 years
Classification
  1. FamilyPhocoenidae
  2. SpeciesNeophocaena phocaenoides
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Harmless and shy around humans; observe respectfully from a distance.
What to notice
Look for a small, dark grey, rounded cetacean with no dorsal fin, rolling gently through shallow murky waters.
Support conservation
Never chase, encircle, or attempt to swim with wild individuals, and retrieve discarded fishing line to reduce bycatch risk.
Responsible observation
  • Boat Etiquette: Cut boat engines or idle at slow speeds when observing them to prevent collisions and acoustic distress.
  • Distance Keeping: Maintain at least 100 meters of clearance, as they are exceptionally skittish around vessels.
  • Report Strandings: Contact local marine wildlife stranding networks immediately if a porpoise is found entangled or beached.
Related species
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