It is concentrated in the eastern IndoPacific region. Neophocaena phocaenoides can be found from Pakistan to Korea, Japan, Borneo and Java. Neophocaena phocaenoides is sometimes called the Black Finless Porpoise because of the common misconception that its skin is black. In reality, the upper portions of N. phocaenoides are gray with touches of blue on the back and sides. The ventral parts are paler.
Pale spots do however decrease with age, and the skin turns black immediately after death.
Further, the skin coloring differs from pale in oceanic and brackish waters, to almost black in rivers. Neophocaena phocaenoides has no dorsal fin but has instead has a midline dorsal ridge. This ridge contains horny papillae. Neophocaena phocaenoides is the smallest cetacean and grows to only 150-190cm. It has a distinct eel-like shape due to its lack of dorsal fin and round, beakless head.