Dall's porpoise Phocoenoides dalli (True, 1885)

Subspecies: Ph. d. dalli

 

Dall's porpoise. Photograph by Eugene Mamaev

The body length of adult animals reaches 2.4 m (average length is 1.8 m), the weight is 220 kg (average weight is 140 kg). Newborns are 91 cm long.

Dall's porpoise is an inhabitant of the northern part of the Pacific Ocean.

Its ration consists of fish (capelin, lanternfish, etc) andsquids. They can dive to a depth of 490 m for food. Move extremely fast – up to 56 km/h. They live in groups, which usually include under 10-20 animals. Dall's porpoise can hybridize with the harbour porpoise.

The total population of the species exceeds 1.2 milion individuals.

The first skulls of this species were sent from the Commander Islands to the collection of the Zoological Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 1896 by Grebnitsky N.A.

Dall's porpoise is a common and numerous species of the water area of the Commander Islands. During one day sea trip you will see dozens of them.

A characteristic feature of Dall's porpoise is s a high white "crest" of splashes. Photograph by Eugene Mamaev