Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) ~ Aquatic Mammals Blog

**Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides)**

Taxonomy :

Finless Porpoise is included in the order Cetacea, suborder Odentecetes and family Porpoiseidae

Distribution :

The Finless Porpoises are distributed in the tropical warm temperate waters of the western Pacific, Indian Ocean, Sea of Japan and China coast.

Fig 1. World wide distribution map of Finless Porpoise

Characteristics, habitat, and value :

Fig 2. Stranded Finless Porpoise in Zhuhai, China (Photos. D.M.Rajitha)

Fig 3. Blunt head region (Photos. D.M.Rajitha)

The genus is very small, about two meters in length, with a blunt head, a slightly protruding frontal eminence, and short broad snout. It mainly feeds on fish and shrimp. It emits echolocation signals when it detects the environment and preys. The Yangtze finless porpoises are the only subspecies living entirely in fresh water in the coastal waters or brackish waters.

Fig 4. Teeth type and mouth region of Finless Porpoise (Photos: D.M.Rajitha)

Status of resources :

There are two species (three subspecies) in this genus, including the Indian finless porpoise and the narrow- backed finless porpoises, of which the Yangtze finless porpoise has two subspecies, the Yangtze finless porpoises, and East Asian finless porpoise. The method of line transects sampling combined with the acoustic survey was used in the study of this species. The number of Yangtze finless porpoise species in the mainstream of the Yangtze River is estimated to be 1000-1200. Underwater noise from ships has been of growing concern in the Yangtze rivers, where it interferes with the echolocation of porpoises that clicks at similar frequencies. It disrupts the foraging and communication of this species. However, noise from boat engines and propellers now frequently override this aquatic concert. Scientists have long suspected that noise could be affecting the porpoise’s behavior. Busy shipping lanes pose the biggest threat to finless porpoise, illegal fishing, illegal gears, water pollution and constructions of water conservancy facilities are important factors for endangered Yangtze finless porpoise in Dongting lake area as well.

Fig 5. Echolocation clicks of Finless Porpoise during foraging ( Clean Finless- removing ambient noises using MATLAB, Analysed by D.M.Rajitha )

Conservation and protection :

Wuhan institute of Aquatic Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has tried to raise finless porpoises 5 times since the end of 1978. Since 1990, it has been kept in Tianjin Zhou Changjiang dolphin nature reserve, Shidou in 2002, 10 juveniles were born in the reserve, which is significant for the rejuvenation of Yangtze finless porpoise resources. The finless porpoise has been successfully raised, and the breeding can be carried out normally. In addition, there are 7 Yangtze finless porpoise nature reserves and 2 relocation reserves in Yangtze River Basin so far.

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