At first glance, dolphins and porpoises look similar. Taking a closer look, there are some general differences that distinguish these animals. See the common bottlenose dolphin (left) and harbor porpoise (right) pictured above. Dolphins and porpoises, along with whales, belong to a group of marine mammals called “cetaceans.” Cetacean comes from the Latin word for “large sea creature.” Dolphins and porpoises are further classified as toothed whales, or “odontocetes.” They are highly intelligent animals that use echolocation to find food, communicate, and navigate. As with all marine mammals, they both come to the surface to breathe. Although dolphins and porpoises are similar, they are not the same. There are some physical characteristics and behaviors you can look for to tell the difference between dolphins and porpoises. How to Recognize a Dolphin Dolphins typically have longer, leaner bodies than porpoises. They have hooked or curved (falcate) dorsal fins, resembling a sickle.…