Most photographs of Burmeister's Porpoises are
taken of dead specimens and show the animal to
be coloured black. This phenomenon gave rise to
the earlier common name, the Black Porpoise.
However live individuals are typically a dark
grey color. They turn black in just a few minutes
after death. The underside varies in colour but
is usually a lighter grey.

They have a shallow indentation at their blowhole set
just in front of the eyes. The shape and placement of
the dorsal fin is unusual for a cetacean—it is triangular
rather than curved and points backwards more than upwards.
It is located about three quarters of the way along the back—further
back than any other dolphin or porpoise. These features are
sufficient to distinguish the porpoise from the similar-sized
Chilean Dolphin which is found in the porpoise's Pacific range.

Facts