Dall's Porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) is a species of porpoise that came to worldwide attention in the 1970s when it was disclosed for the first time to the public that salmon fishing trawls were killing thousands of Dall's Porpoise and other cetaceans each year by accidentally capturing them in their nets.
The Dall's Porpoise is the only member of the Phocoenoides genus. It was named after the famous American naturalist W.H. Dall
Physical description:
The unique body shape of the Dall's Porpoise makes it easily distinguishable
from other cetacean species. The animal has a very thick body and a small
head. The colouration is rather like that of an Orca - the main body of the
porpoise is very dark grey to black with very demarced white patches on the
flank that begin some way behind the flippers, which are small and close to
the head. The dorsal fin is set just back from the middle of the back and
sits up erect. The upper part of the dorsal fin has a white to light grey
"frosting". The fluke has a similar frosting. The adult fluke curves
back towards the body of the animal which is another distinguishing feature.
It is larger than other porpoises - growing upto 230cm in length and weighing
between 130 and 200kg. Dall's Porpoise live for upto 15 years.
Population and distribution:
Two consistent and well-defined colour morphs - the dalli-type morph and the
truei-type morph have been identified. The dalli-type is more widespread ranging
across the north Pacific Ocean from southern California to southern Japan
(including the Sea of Japan in the south up to the Bering Sea in the north).
The truei type is more restricted - occupying a smaller area of the north
west Pacific north and east of Japan. The species differs from other porpoises
in that it prefers deep water and the open ocean. It may come closer to land
but if it does typically stays close to deep water canyons. The population
is believed to be common in most of its range and although no precise estimates
exists (surveying is hampered by the porpoises' propensity for approaching
boats) the global population numbers in at least the hundreds of thousands
(but see also 'conservation' below). The greatest concentration is perhaps
in the Sea of Okhotsk.
Behaviour:
Dall's Porpoises are hugely active creatures. They will often zig-zag around
at great speed on or just below the surface of the water creating a spray
called a "rooster tail". They may appear and disappear quite suddenly.
The fastest of all small cetaceans, and coming close to matching the mighty
Orca for speed, Dall's Porpoises can swim at up to 55km/h. The porpoises will
approach boats and will bow- and stern-ride but is liable to lose interest
unless the boat is travelling quickly.
Dall's Porpoises appear in small groups (about 2-10 in number). The groups appear not to be tight knit and may aggregate together at good feeding grounds. On very rare occasions a thousand or more individual may be seen at the same time. They feed on a variety of fish and cephalopods. Shoals of fish such as herring, anchovies and mackerel are common meals.
Hybrids:
Baird et al (1998) determined through DNA sequencing that a fetus found in
British Columbia was a intergeneric hybrid of a Dall's Porpoise and a Harbour
Porpoise. This hybrid may not be rare - it may describe the origins of some
atypically coloured individuals that otherwise appear to be Dall's Porpoises
spotted off the coast of Vancouver Island.
Conservation:
Many Dall Porpoise's are killed each year in fishing nets. However this accidental
kill is probably not sufficient to deplete the productive populations in most
areas. A serious cause of concern for conservationists is the hunting of Dall's
Porpoises by harpoon by Japanese hunters. The number of porpoise killed each
year rose dramatically following the moratoria on hunting larger cetaceans
introduced in the mid-1980s. 1988 saw the greatest number - 40,000 - killed.
A quota of 18,000 individuals per year is now in operation. However concern
remains that this is sufficient to deplete populations in the western Pacific.