Porpoise



Harbor Porpoise //Phocoena phocoena//
The Harbor Porpoise (phocoena phocoena) lives in the coastal waters of Mexico mainly along the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula. Temperatures there usually range from about 75-79 degrees F (24-26 degrees C).

The Harbor Porpoise is a mammal that blends in with its surrounding waters in order to stay hidden. They grow to be about 4.9-6.6 ft long and weigh about 110-200 lb. They have round heads, a small triangular dorsal fin, greyish-white sides to almost white along the belly, and a black cape over the sides and back. The Harbor Porpoise is a predator that feeds often on squid, cod, herring, hake, capelin, sprat, and sand lace. It is also prey that is eaten by white sharks and orcas. It is even killed, but not even eaten, by bottlenose dolphins. A food chain for the Harbor Porpoise could be: Cod--> Harbor Porpoise--> White Shark. The Harbor Porpoise is currently being protected. For Harbor Porpoises, the females usually grow faster and end up being larger than males. Also, in the middle ages, Harbor Porpoise meat was (sadly) considered a delicacy suitable for a royal feast. Also, few live to be 20 years old.