Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

OTHER NAMES: Common Porpoise, Puffing Pig
Latin Etymology: Phocoena ("big seal") phocoena ("big seal")

Harbour Porpoise (subspecies P. p. phocoena) at St Bee's Head, Cumbria - April 2011

Featured Subspecies: Phocoena phocoena phocoena
Weight: 61-76kg  /  Length: 67-85cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED/ IUCN Red List: Vulnerable 

The smallest species of cetacean found regularly in British Waters, they are unobtrusive feeders in coastal waters where they are usually solitary. Unlike more familiar dolphin species, they appear only very briefly to gain air; a momentary sliding out of the water quietly before vanishing back down again. They are found round much of the Northern Hemisphere but are currently classed as vulnerable due to population declines with threats including climate change, pollutions, overfishing and noise pollution all believed to be effecting them.

Related Species:
ORDER: Artiodactyla
Family: Phocoenidae

Genus: Phocoena
SUBSPECIES: P. p. phocoena, P. p. relicta, P. p. vomerina

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread but scarce resident of coastal waters

 - An individual seen from St Bees Head .

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto