Blainville was a famous French naturalist. The Franciscana is one of the world's smallest cetaceans. It has a long narrow beak which grows even longer with age, and a small but well-developed melon. The dorsal is small and triangular, with a rounded peak, and continues as a ridge down the tail stock. The flippers are broad and almost triangular in shape.
Body colour is brown-grey, with paler undersides.
The Franciscana can be readily identified by its small dorsal and long beak. These dolphins take fish, squid, crustaceans and octopus. Little is known about Franciscana behaviour. They travel in groups of between 1-5 individuals. Approximately 18-20 years.