Marsopas: What are they, where they live and guys

The term Marsopa is used to refer to smaller cetaceanswhich belong to the family Phocoenidaecalled focénidos. Classify within The dentistrywhich is the group of cetaceans that They have teeth.

Are Marine mammalsbut they can also be in another variety of fresh water environments. This is how they can inhabit seas, open water oceans, coasts and even rivers. In addition, they can be found in different climates, from polar to tropical. It should be clarified that each species lives in a particular geographical area.

Here you can read about this common doubt: Do whales have teeth?

• Being Dentalthe marsopas have teeth with those who predate different animals to feed. These are the first important characteristic of the Marsopas, because they are in flattened form.
• Its diet is mainly based on cephalopods, such as squid, small and bentic fish They live in the background, and in a few cases they also capture the occasional benthic animal, such as some invertebrates. Among the fish that capture are the sardines and capes. They have the ability to hunt fish in the water column, so they are not excluded.
• To find their prey, they use Echolocation where they launch infrasonic sounds that are interpreted by an organ called melon, which maps everything that is around the Marsopa. Learn more about echolocation: what is and animals that use it here.
• They are mammals are pulmoned, so They have to go out to breathe to the surface. For this they have the nostrils far back and are called spiracles.
• The limbs are modified in swimming finsin addition to having hydrodynamic shape to skillfully move in the aquatic environment.
• Finally, one of the diagnostic characteristics to know if a marine mammal is a marsoup is Your short snout.

Exist 6 species that classify within the Marsopas. These are:

• Marina Vaquita (PHocoena Sinus): It is endemic to Baja California, Mexico. It measures 1.4 to 1.5 meters long, which positions itself as the smallest cetacean in the world. It is critical of extinction for incidental hunting, and for the restricted of its habitat. There are currently less than 10 living specimens. It is characteristic because it has prominent lips. They are shy. Here you can read about why the Vaquita Marina is in danger of extinction.
• Common marsopa (Phocoena Phocoena): Inhabits the north of the planet at the end of the planet, near the coasts or in estuaries. It is the most common Marsopa. It measures 1.4 to 2 meters long.
• Black Marsopa (Phocoena spinipinnis): He is native to the Southern Cone in South America, both on the side of the Atlantic Ocean and in the Pacific. They live near the coasts but sometimes arrive in the open sea. On average they measure 1.5 meters long. Although it is called Marsopa Negra, its skin is not of that color, but are gray like all the Marsopas. When he dies he turns black.
• Glasses of glasses (Dioptric phocoena): It has the entire white bottom, and the dark gray upper. In addition, it is particular because it seems that he uses glasses, for a line that surrounds his eyes. It measures 2 to 2.4 meters long. It is originally from the end of the planet.
• Dall Marsopa (PHocoenoids Dalli): Inhabits the north of the Pacific Ocean. It measures 2.3 meters long, so it is one of the largest marsopas. It is characterized by having a white spot on the belly, and back quite dark, almost black, which is why it looks like a miniature orca.
• Marsopa without fin (Neopocaena phocaoenoids): The most peculiar thing is that it has no dorsal fin. It measures 1 to 1.5 meters long. Inhabits Asia’s coasts, but arrives at the Yangtsé River.
• Marsopa Lisa (NEOPHOCAENA ASIAEORIENTALIS): It is endemic to the Yangtsé River, and is completely adapted to these fresh water conditions, which becomes the only marsopa of this type. It measures 1.5 to 2.3 meters long.

Although Marsopapas and dolphins are marine mammals, and they look similar, they are two separate groups because there are several differences. The Marsopas as dolphins were classified for a long time, but phylogenetic studies revealed that they are two separate groups. In addition, there are several morphological differences that are distinguished between them. These are:

• Marsopas are smaller than the dolphins.
• Marsopas have the arched column slightly down in concave form, but the dolphins have a curve in convex, that is to say up.
• Marsopas have flattened teethand dolphins have conical teeth.
• Dolphins have the characteristic elongated snoutwhile Marsopapas do not have it so prominent and is rather short.
• Dolphins are more social than Marsopapasas more complex groups of several individuals form.
• Dolphins have a more stylized body than the Marsopas.
• The dorsal fin of the dolphins have a crescent shapewhile those of the Marsopas is triangular.

After knowing better to the Marsopapas, we recommend you read about what are the marine mammals animals.

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