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Phocoena phocoena (Linnaeus, 1758) Harbor Porpoise; Delphinus phocoena

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Higher taxa:  Life   Vertebrata   Mammalia   Phocoenidae   Phocoena   Global map IDnature guides: Mammalia, Mammalia_species, Marine_Mammals We parsed the following live from the Web into this page. Such content is managed by its original site and not cached on Discover Life. Please send feedback and corrections directly to the source. See original regarding copyrights and terms of use. North American Mammals, Smithsonian Institution Animal Diversity

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Cetacea · Phocoenidae · Phocoena phocoena    Smithsonian Institution    Copyright Notice    Privacy Notice   Phocoena phocoena Harbor Porpoise Order: Cetacea Family: Phocoenidae Click to enlarge. (44 kb) Conservation Status: Vulnerable . Large numbers of harbor porpoises are caught in fishing nets, because the porpoises feed on schooling fish such as herring and mackerel, in relatively shallow coastal waters. They are also affected by increasing pollution in coastal waters, and are considered vulnerable or threatened in many parts of their range. They are social, and feed in groups, working their way northward to spend the summer in cooler waters and back south as far as Los Angeles, in the Pacific, and the Carolinas or even Florida, in the Atlantic, for the winter. These small, stocky animals breed when they are 3-5 years old. Females nurse their calves for about 9 months. The stomachs of 4-5 month old juveniles killed in gillnets contained both milk and solid food, which indicates that they were beginning to feed themselves. Also known as: Common Porpoise, Puffing Pig Sexual Dimorphism: Females are 10%-20% larger than males. Length: Average: 1.6 m Range: 1.5-1.9 m Weight: Average: 50 kg Range: 45-90 kg References: Linnaeus, C., 1758.  Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classis, ordines, genera, species cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis . Tenth Edition, Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm, 1:77, 824 pp. Links: Mammal Species of the World Click here for The American Society of Mammalogists species account Phocoena phocoena - lower (with Phocoenoides dalli ) Click to enlarge. (75kb)   English · Español

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Overview  News  Technology  Conditions of Use  Privacy Policy  Partners & Contributors  Awards & Recognition  ADW Staff  Contact Us  Spinning Skulls  About Mammals  Frog Calls  Resources for College Instructors  Resources for K-12 Instructors  Contribute to ADW  What's in a Scientific Name?  Authority Lists: Where We Get Our Names  Name, Rank, and Serial Number  Organismal classification: evolutionary relationships & ranks  Glossary  Search Guide  Related Links  Contact Us  Report an Error Structured Inquiry Search — preview Home Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrata Class Mammalia Order Cetacea Suborder Odontoceti Family Phocoenidae Species Phocoena phocoena Phocoena phocoena harbor porpoise Information Pictures Classification 2010/02/07 04:26:56.691 US/Eastern By Andrew Masi Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Phocoenidae Genus: Phocoena Species: Phocoena phocoena Geographic Range Found in coastal regions of the North Atlantic, Arctic, and North Pacific Oceans; also the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. They are found in bays, estuaries, river mouths, and sometimes ascend further up rivers. ( Dollinger (editor), 1988 ; Nowak, 1999 ) Biogeographic Regions: nearctic ( native ); palearctic ( native ); arctic ocean ( native ); atlantic ocean ( native ); pacific ocean ( native ); mediterranean sea ( native ). Other Geographic Terms: holarctic . Habitat Found in both salt and fresh water areas, Phocoena phocoena require a shallow coastal body of water. In the Western Atlantic, they also move far out to sea near the end of summer and reappear in spring. Other regional populations move south or farther away from shore to avoid ice buildups. ( Nowak, 1999 ) These animals are found in the following types of habitat: temperate ; polar ; saltwater or marine ; freshwater . Aquatic Biomes: pelagic ; rivers and streams; coastal ; brackish water . Other: estuarine . Physical Description Mass 45 to 60 kg; avg. 52.50 kg (99 to 132 lbs; avg. 115.5 lbs) Length 1.50 to 2 m (4.92 to 6.56 ft) Basal Metabolic Rate Phocoena phocoena , also known as the "Common" or "Harbor" Porpoise, is a small cetacean that is 1.5 to 2 meters long and weighs from 45 - 65 kilograms. The female of the species is usually slightly larger than the male. The color of the animal varies from individual to individual, but the most common coloration pattern is a dark dorsal surface that shifts to a lighter colored hue ventrally. Although the dark color is usually black or deep gray, albinos have been reported in which the dark segments are completely or partially white. The flippers, dorsal fin, and tail are all dark in color, and there is a black stripe that runs from the edge of the mouth or eye to the flipper on either side. There is no noticeable forehead or beak on this species, and the snout is short, giving the head a somewhat cone-like shape. P. phocoena has two pectoral flippers, a single dorsal fin, and a tail with two partially separated flukes. All of these appendages are short and not very sharp, with the dorsal fin being triangular shaped and usually around 15 - 20 cm tall. There is a noticeable keel located near the all dark tail flukes, with the tail itself spanning anywhere from 30-65 cm. Inside the slightly upturned mouth there are rows of 16-28 spade-shaped teeth. There is no variance in the shape or type of teeth in P. phocoena . ( Dollinger (editor), 1988 ; Nowak, 1999 ; The Porpoise Page, 1998 ) Some key physical features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry . Sexual dimorphism: female larger. Reproduction Breeding interval A female will give birth to one calf per year Breeding season Mating mainly occurs from June to September Number of offspring 1 (average) Gestation period 11 months (average) Birth Mass 7000 g (average) (246.4 oz) [ External Source: AnAge ] Time to weaning 7 to 8 months; avg. 7.50 months Age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) 5 years (high) Age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) 5 years (high) It is not clearly known how extensive the mating season is in P. phocoena , but it seems that mating mainly occurs from June to September with births occurring from May to August. It is commonly noted that gestation lasts 11 months with nursing following for another 7 or 8 months. A female will give birth to one calf per year, with the birth size of the calf being 6-8kg and 70-100cm long. Sexual maturity is reached by the fifth year, if not before, and the life span of P. phocoena is believed to be anywhere from 6 to 20 years. (Johnston(1999), Nowak(1999)) Key reproductive features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous . Behavior The species usually swims near the surface, rising to the surface to breath about every 25 seconds. It does not present a very playful attitude, ignoring boats and rarely jumping out of the water. Harbor Porpoises do not move particularly fast, but when pursued can reach speeds of around 23km/hr. When diving for food this porpoise stays down for an average of 4 minutes, and is believed to be able to dive as deep as 200m. Although schools of up to 100 individuals may sometimes be seen, P. phocoena is usually seen in pairs or in groups of 5-10. When the larger groups do occur, it is usually because a number of smaller groups have joined together while following a rich food source. Mothers bring newborn calves to secluded coves to nurse. Some populations are known to migrate, but when they return to their regular waters they are territorial, patrolling certain areas. (Johnston(1999), Nowak(1999)) Key behaviors: natatorial ; motile ; migratory ; territorial ; social . Food Habits Diet consists mainly of smooth, non-spiny fish, and cephalopods. Herring, pollack, hake, sardines, and cod are commonly eaten. Other sea creatures such as squid and shrimp are also consumed. P. phocoena produces click-like sounds similar to those used by other cetaceans as a means of echolocation in order to locate food.(Johnston(1999), Nowak(1999)) Primary Diet: carnivore ( piscivore ). Animal Foods: fish; mollusks; aquatic crustaceans. Economic Importance for Humans: Positive Taken heavily in various areas, the meat is used for human and animal consumption, and its oil is used in lamps and as a lubricant. Conservation Status IUCN Red List: [link] : Vulnerable. CITES: [link] : Appendix II. Although fishing of P. phocoena is now illegal in most areas, the species is still in danger. Deliberate and accidental deaths still occur because modern fishing nets are almost undetectable to porpoises. Since these nets are commonly used in nearshore areas, in the natural range of P. phocoena , they probably kill large numbers of porpoises. Various measures are being taken in the United States and other nations in an attempt to limit deaths of this kind. In addition to deaths related to fishing, porpoises also suffer from chemical and noise pollution. (Dollinger(1988), Johnston(1999), McWilliam(1999), Nowak(1999)) Other Comments One interesting danger that the Harbor Porpoise may be facing is completely natural. As one group of researchers noticed, a number of porpoise carcasses taken in Scotland all had similar puncture and bruise wounds, with most of them dying as a result of internal injury. In addition to these injuries some of the specimens also had teeth gouges in their flesh. After analyzing these bite patterns, the researchers determined that the animal responsible for inflicting these wounds was Tursiops truncatus , the Bottlenosed Dolphin. At least in this area of Scotland it seems that where the two species' ranges overlap, dolphins are attacking and in some cases killing porpoises. It is not known for sure exactly what is prompting this kind of behavior. ( The Porpoise Page, 1998 ) For More Information Find Phocoena phocoena information at Encyclopedia of Life Contributors George Hammond, Animal Diversity Web Staff. Andrew Masi (author), University of Michigan. Phil Myers (editor), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan. References Dollinger (editor), P. 1988. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; Identification Manual Vol I. Mammalia . Switzerland: Secretariat of the Convention. Johnston, D. 2001. "Harbour Porpoise" (On-line). @Phocoena.org. Accessed 11/03/04 at http://phocoena.org/factsheets/harbourporp.html . Nowak, R. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th Ed. Vol II . Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press. The Porpoise Page, 1998. "Harbor Porpoise" (On-line). The Porpoise Page. Accessed 11/03/04 at http://www.theporpoisepage.com/harbor.php . 2010/02/07 04:26:57.850 US/Eastern To cite this page: Hammond, G. and A. Masi. 2000. "Phocoena phocoena" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed February 09, 2010 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Phocoena_phocoena.html. Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students . ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control. Other formats: OWL Home   ¦   About Us   ¦   Special Topics   ¦   Teaching   ¦   About Animal Names   ¦   Help Structured Inquiry Search — preview Sponsored in part by the Interagency Education Research Initiative, the Homeland Foundation and the University of Michigan   Museum of Zoology . This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants DUE-0633095 and DRL-0628151. The ADW Team gratefully acknowledges their support. Report Error — Comment ©1995-2008, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors. All rights reserved.