Phocoena

Porpoise ( Phocoena phocoena )

Phocoena is a genus of harbor porpoises ( Phocoenidae ) to which four of the six species of the family are counted.

Features

Phocoena species are 1.5 km to 2.30 meters long. In contrast to the closely related dolphins have a rounded head, are schnabellos and do not conical, but pin or spade-shaped teeth. Your back side is usually gray to dark gray, while Burmeister 's Porpoise also black and blue black when Brillenschweinswal, the ventral side brightly colored or whitish. The transition is blurred or sharply demarcated (Burmeister 's Porpoise and Brillenschweinswal ).

From Glattschweinswal ( Neophocaena phocaenoides ), the Phocoena types differ, inter alia, by the possession of a dorsal fin, which is often variable formed within a species and may be triangular, crescent- shaped or large and rounded.

In contrast to Weißflankenschweinswal ( Phocoenoides dalli ) have the Phocoena species, with the exception of old males of Burmeister porpoise, no increased caudal peduncle.

Species

• Brillenschweinswal ( Phocoena dioptrica )
• Porpoise ( Phocoena phocoena )
• California porpoise ( Phocoena sinus )
• Burmeister 's Porpoise ( Phocoena spinipinnis )

Dissemination

The Common porpoise inhabits coastal temperate seas of the Northern Hemisphere, the circumpolar Brillenschweinswal lives in the oceans of the southern hemisphere. The coasts of the central and southern South America are home to the Burmeister porpoise; the endangered California porpoise has a tiny area of ​​distribution in the northern Gulf of California.

Porpoise

California porpoise

Burmeister 's Porpoise