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The shy, elusive Harbor Porpoise is one of the smallest
ocean mammals. In fact, Harbor Porpoises are small
stocky whales! It’s one of six species of porpoise. It
gets it’s name because it stays close to coastal areas. In
fact, it often ventures up rivers and has been seen miles
from the sea! They are normally found in the North
Atlantic, North Pacific and Black Sea in waters less than 60
degrees F and less than 500 feet deep. Their deepest
dive recorded was 735 feet deep! Sometimes they can be
found easily because of the loud puffing sound they make
as they surface to breathe! They also communicate by
emitting very high frequency clicks.
As adults the harbor porpoise can get approximately 6
feet in length and weigh up to 165 pounds. The females
are heavier. Their flippers, dorsal fin, tail fin and back are
a dark gray or brown. Their underside is much whiter.
The Harbor Porpoise have a blunt and rounded snout
without a prominent beak. They are stocky through their
mid-section. Their body is padded with a thick layer of
blubber that helps them retain heat. Their flippers are
rounded at the tips and oval shaped. Their dorsal fin is
shaped triangular.
Harbor Porpoise feed on small non-spiny fishes like
herring, cod, whiting, squid, pollock and sardines. They
eat about 10% of the body weight every day.
Their numbers are decreasing because they are
frequently caught by accident in commercial fishing nets.
The population is also harmed by chemicals and noise
pollution.
ocean mammals. In fact, Harbor Porpoises are small
stocky whales! It’s one of six species of porpoise. It
gets it’s name because it stays close to coastal areas. In
fact, it often ventures up rivers and has been seen miles
from the sea! They are normally found in the North
Atlantic, North Pacific and Black Sea in waters less than 60
degrees F and less than 500 feet deep. Their deepest
dive recorded was 735 feet deep! Sometimes they can be
found easily because of the loud puffing sound they make
as they surface to breathe! They also communicate by
emitting very high frequency clicks.
As adults the harbor porpoise can get approximately 6
feet in length and weigh up to 165 pounds. The females
are heavier. Their flippers, dorsal fin, tail fin and back are
a dark gray or brown. Their underside is much whiter.
The Harbor Porpoise have a blunt and rounded snout
without a prominent beak. They are stocky through their
mid-section. Their body is padded with a thick layer of
blubber that helps them retain heat. Their flippers are
rounded at the tips and oval shaped. Their dorsal fin is
shaped triangular.
Harbor Porpoise feed on small non-spiny fishes like
herring, cod, whiting, squid, pollock and sardines. They
eat about 10% of the body weight every day.
Their numbers are decreasing because they are
frequently caught by accident in commercial fishing nets.
The population is also harmed by chemicals and noise
pollution.
| The Harbor Porpoise |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Cetacea
SUBORDER: Odontoceti
FAMILY: Phocoenidae
GENUS: Phocoena
SPECIES: phocoena
ORDER: Cetacea
SUBORDER: Odontoceti
FAMILY: Phocoenidae
GENUS: Phocoena
SPECIES: phocoena
