Dall's Porpoise
Phocoenoides dalli
Appearance
These porpoises have dark or grey-black skin and a white patch on their side and a white triangle on their dorsal fin. The dorsal fin is triangular and has a hook at the end. They have a stubby body and a small, pointed head. They grow to just over two metres long and can weigh over 200 kilograms.
Range & Habitat
Dall’s porpoises are found throughout the north Pacific Ocean, both in the open ocean and close to land where there is deep water. Scientists think there are over one million Dall’s porpoises in the north Pacific Ocean.
Reciprocal Relationships
The Dall’s porpoise plays an important role in ocean ecosystems. They eat squid, small crustaceans and many small fish, like herring and anchovies. They are an important food source for Orcas and other whales.
These porpoises are truly gifted with unique swimming skills. They are deep-water feeders and can dive for up to four or five minutes before coming back up for air. They are the fastest swimmer of all whales and porpoises, and they have been recorded swimming over 50 kilometers per hour. They don’t usually bring their whole body out of the water, but when they surface, they make a big splash called a “rooster tail”.
They sometimes breed with another grey-skinned species of porpoise, like the harbour porpoise. In these cases they'll give birth to babies that have grey skin but act like a Dall’s porpoise. Fisheries threaten Dall’s porpoises, both because they are fished on purpose and because they are often accidentally caught in nets used by salmon and squid fishermen.
Porpoises play an important role in many Coastal First Nations. According to the Haida Nation, the porpoise people lived in underwater villages, and it was important to re-establish a good rapport as these people would control the fishing supply. In a Quinault story, the porpoise people introduced the Quinault to salmon as a food source.
These porpoises are truly gifted with unique swimming skills. They are deep-water feeders and can dive for up to four or five minutes before coming back up for air. They are the fastest swimmer of all whales and porpoises, and they have been recorded swimming over 50 kilometers per hour. They don’t usually bring their whole body out of the water, but when they surface, they make a big splash called a “rooster tail”.
They sometimes breed with another grey-skinned species of porpoise, like the harbour porpoise. In these cases they'll give birth to babies that have grey skin but act like a Dall’s porpoise. Fisheries threaten Dall’s porpoises, both because they are fished on purpose and because they are often accidentally caught in nets used by salmon and squid fishermen.
Porpoises play an important role in many Coastal First Nations. According to the Haida Nation, the porpoise people lived in underwater villages, and it was important to re-establish a good rapport as these people would control the fishing supply. In a Quinault story, the porpoise people introduced the Quinault to salmon as a food source.
More Information
If you belong to a First Nation with a story or piece of information not represented here and you would like to share more about this species, please email us at education@sierraclub.bc.ca.
Photo Credit
Canva
