How to identify
- Typically has a very triangular dorsal fin, centrally-placed
- Doral fin minimally visible when it breaks the surface
- Rounded faces with no real beak
- A relatively uniform grey colour above, and whiter below
Where and when
Harbour Porpoise can be seen close to shore in shallow water, either alone or in small groups. They are shy and tend to avoid boats.
They are quite at home venturing into river estuaries in search of their prey.
Behaviour
If you’re lucky enough to get close, you may hear the loud noise from their blow as they surface for air – giving this cetacean the nickname “puffing pig”!
Harbour Porpoise are often seen feeding in cooler waters. So, their high metabolic means they need to feed continuously both day and night for the energy needed to survive. Each day, harbour porpoises will eat enough fish to replenish as much as 10% of their own body weight.
Harbour Porpoise like to eat small schooling fish, like herring, sprat, sand eel, squid and octopus.
Gallery
