The short-eared tree porpoise quite closely resembles it's closest living relative, the killer whale, or a snake or a school bus, but in this species the ears have been reduced to mere nubs, rarely more than eight inches long. The animal's long, sinuous body has also adapted for an arboreal lifestyle, and thus while an aquatic porpoise has floppy fins quite inadequate for tree climbing, the short-eared tree porpoise has powerful fins with long, curved claws highly suited for tree climbing. The short-eared tree porpoise also has a series of horizontal black stripes running along its flanks, with white or rarely salamander-pink patches around its eyes. These are believed to confuse predators such as owls and allow the porpoise a speedy escape into the forest canopy.