Contrary to popular belief, a porpoise is not a dolphin.

I know you don’t really care but just read this.

Dolphins and porpoises differ in their faces, fins, and body shapes.

Dolphins have longer noses, bigger mouths, more curved dorsal fins, and longer, leaner bodies than porpoises.

Since we live in the middle of the continent, we’ll never see these majestic creatures in real life unless we get on a plane and really work hard to swim out there into the water somewhere warm and wet.

I decided you should read about this today because I thought it was funny.

It may or may not be to you.

The Northeastern Offshore Spotted Dolphin, has a falcate, or sickle-shaped dorsal fin and light spotting on the belly.

Dolphins are in fact, not porpoises.

Most midwesterners probably think a dolphin is a dolphin, and they’re probably right most of the time.

The main differentiating factor between dolphins and porpoises is that dolphins make whistling sounds through their blowholes to communicate with one another underwater.

Porpoises also have blowholes, and just seem not to be as talkative.

Don’t take it personal next time you get out into the ocean.

Honestly, you have a lot more to worry about.

Anyway, here’s an article from NOAA about the differences.

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/dolphin_porpoise.html