porpoise

Porpoises Fossil range: 15.970–0 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N Miocene to Recent
Phocoena phocoena, Harbour Porpoise at the Fjord & Bæltcentret in Denmark
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea Suborder: Odontoceti Superfamily: Delphinoidea Family: Phocoenidae Gray, 1825
Genera
See text

Porpoises are small cetaceans of the family Phocoenidae; they are related to whales and dolphins. They are distinct from dolphins, although the word "porpoise" (pronounced /ˈpɔrpəs/) has been used to refer to any small dolphin, especially by sailors and fishermen. The most obvious visible difference between the two groups is that porpoises have flattened, spade-shaped teeth distinct from the conical teeth of dolphins, and shorter beaks.

The name derives from French pourpois, originally from Medieval Latin porcopiscus (porcus pig + piscus fish).

Porpoises, divided into six species, live in all oceans, mostly near the shore. Freshwater populations of the Finless Porpoise also exist. Probably the best known species is the Harbour Porpoise, which can be found across the Northern Hemisphere. Like all toothed whales, porpoises are predators, using sounds to locate prey and to coordinate with others. They hunt fish, squid, and crustaceans.

Porpoises apparently diverged from dolphins about 15 million years ago in the northern Pacific, then spread across the globe much later.

Taxonomy and evolution

Porpoises, along with whales and dolphins, are descendants of land-living ungulates (hoofed animals) that first entered the oceans around 50 million years ago. During the Miocene (23 to 5 MYA), mammals were fairly modern. The cetaceans diversified, and fossil evidence suggests that porpoises diverged from dolphins and other cetaceans around 15 MYA. The oldest fossils are known from the shallow seas around the north Pacific, with animals spreading to the European coasts and southern hemisphere only much later, during the Pliocene.^[1]

Suborder Odontoceti Toothed whales

• Infraorder Delphinida
  • Superfamily Delphinoidea
    • Family Phocoenidae: Porpoises
      • Genus †Haborophocoena^[2]
        • Haborophocoena toyoshimai
      • Genus Neophocaena
        • Finless Porpoise, Neophocaena phocaeniodes
      • Genus †Numataphocoena^[3]
        • Numataphocoena yamashitai
      • Genus Phocoena
        • Harbour Porpoise, Phocoena phocoena
        • Vaquita, Phocoena sinus
        • Spectacled Porpoise, Phocoena dioptrica
        • Burmeister's Porpoise, Phocoena spinipinnis
      • Genus Phocoenoides
        • Dall's Porpoise, Phocoenoides dalli
      • Genus †Septemriocetus^[4]
        • Septemriocetus bosselaersi

Recently-discovered hybrids between male Harbour porpoises and female Dall's Porpoises indicate that the two species may actually be members of the same genus.^[5]

Physical characteristics

A Harbour Porpoise at an aquarium. In the wild, porpoises rarely jump out of the water.

Porpoises tend to be smaller but stouter than dolphins. They have small, rounded heads and blunt jaws instead of beaks. While dolphins have a round, bulbous "melon", porpoises do not. Their teeth are spade-shaped, whereas dolphins have conical teeth. In addition, a porpoise's dorsal fin is generally triangular, rather than curved like that of many dolphins and large whales. Some species have small bumps, known as tubercles, on the leading edge of the dorsal fin. The function of these bumps is unknown. ^[5]

These animals are the smallest cetaceans, reaching body lengths up to 2.5 metres (8 ft); the smallest species is the Vaquita, reaching up to 1.5 m (5 ft). In terms of weight the lightest is the Finless Porpoise at 30-45 kilograms (65-100 lb) and the heaviest is Dall's Porpoise at 130-200 kg (280-440 lb). Because of their small size, porpoises lose body heat to the water more rapidly than other cetaceans. Their stout shape, which minimizes surface area, may be an adaptation to reduce heat loss. Thick blubber also insulates them from the cold. The small size of porpoises requires them to eat frequently, rather than depending on fat reserves.^[5]

Life history

Porpoises are relatively r-selected compared with dolphins: that is, they bear young more quickly than dolphins. Female Dall's and Harbour Porpoises often become pregnant with a single calf each year, and pregnancy lasts for about 11 months. Porpoises have been known to live 8-10 years although there are some that lived to be 20.^[5]

Behaviour

"Rooster tail" spray around swimming Dall's Porpoises

Porpoises are predators of fish, squid, and crustaceans. Although they are capable of dives up to 200 m, they generally hunt in shallow coastal waters. They are found most commonly in small groups of fewer than ten individuals. Rarely, some species form brief aggregations of several hundred animals. Like all toothed whales they are capable of echolocation for finding prey and group coordination. Porpoises are fast swimmers—Dall's porpoise is said to be one of the fastest cetaceans, with a speed of 55 km/h (34 mph). Porpoises tend to be less acrobatic and more wary than dolphins.

Human impact

Accidental entanglement (bycatch) in fishing nets is the main threat to porpoises today. One of the most endangered cetacean species is the Vaquita, having a limited distribution in the Gulf of California, a highly industrialized area.^[6]

In some countries, porpoises are hunted for food or bait meat.

Porpoises are rarely held in captivity in zoos or oceanaria, as they are generally not as capable of adapting to tank life nor as easily trained as dolphins.

See also

Cetaceans portal

• Dolphin
• Whale

References

External Links

• Whale Trackers - An online documentary series about whales, dolphins and porpoises.
• World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) - information on porpoises and other cetaceans.