Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Porpoises (/ ˈ p ɔː r p ə s ɪ z /) are small dolphin-like cetaceans classified under the family Phocoenidae. Although similar in appearance to dolphins , they are more closely related to narwhals and belugas than to the true dolphins . [ 1 ]
Harbour porpoises tend to be solitary foragers, but they do sometimes hunt in packs and herd fish together. [11] Young porpoises need to consume about 7% to 8% of their body weight each day to survive, which is approximately 15 pounds or 7 kilograms of fish. Significant predators of harbour porpoises include white sharks and killer whales (orcas
Dall's porpoises live in small, fluid groups of two to ten individuals, [7] but aggregations of hundreds have been reported. [11] They have a polygynous mating system in which males compete for females. [14] During the mating season, a male will select a fertile female and guard her to ensure paternity. [14]
Finless porpoises can grow to as much as 2.27 m (7 ft 5 in) in length, and can weigh up to 72 kg (159 lb), although most are smaller. Adults grow more than 1.55 m (5 ft) in length and up to 30–45 kg (65–100 lb) in weight. [6] The flippers are moderately large, reaching up to 20% of the total body length.
A great number of harbour porpoises live in the national park. [15] The Wadden Sea is also home to harbour seals and grey seals. According to the official counting of the National park Administration, about 13.000 harbour seals are living in the Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein (2017).
Like other porpoises, their behaviour tends to be not as energetic and showy as that of dolphins. They do not ride bow waves, and in some areas appear to be shy of boats. [3] Finless porpoises make both high frequency clicking sounds, and longer, low frequency tones, the latter perhaps being for communication, rather than echolocation. [9]
Interactive maps, databases and real-time graphics from The Huffington Post
Most photographs of Burmeister's porpoises are taken of dead specimens and show the animal to be coloured black. This phenomenon gave rise to the earlier common name, black porpoise. However live individuals are typically a dark grey color. [3] They turn black in just a few minutes after death.