![Dall's Porpoise - Phocoenoides dalli Dall's Porpoise - Phocoenoides dalli](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/Creature_Images/953.jpg)
Photo by
PRBO-Dan Taylor
The Dall's porpoise is stout, muscular, and thick-bodied, but has a relatively small head, fins, and flippers. Coloration is mostly black with a gray patch on the dorsal fin, and a large white marking on the side. This species can swim very fast reaching speeds of 35 miles per hour which often creates a rooster tail of spray as they surface to breathe. These animals prefer to bowride in front of fast moving vessels.
|
Dall's Porpoise
(Phocoenoides dalli)
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/blank1x1.gif)
![Distribution Distribution](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/Encyclopedia_btn_03.gif) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/blank1x1.gif) |
Found mainly in the cold waters of the northern North Pacific. These creatures tend to migrate north in summer and south in winter in the Western Pacific.
|
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/blank1x1.gif)
![Habitat Habitat](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/Encyclopedia_btn_08.gif) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/blank1x1.gif) |
Mostly offshore, but sometimes inshore in some regions |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/blank1x1.gif)
![Diet Diet](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/Encyclopedia_btn_06.gif) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/blank1x1.gif) |
Fish, squid, krill
|
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/blank1x1.gif)
![Status Status](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/Encyclopedia_btn_10.gif)
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/blank1x1.gif) ![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/btn_Slider.gif)
The status of this species is
representative of the populations within the waters of this Sanctuary only, not global populations. |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/blank1x1.gif)
![Quick Fact Quick Fact](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/Encyclopedia_btn_12.gif) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/blank1x1.gif) |
The Dall's porpoise is easily recognized by its strongly keeled "caudal peduncle", or area right in front of its fluke.
|
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/blank1x1.gif)
![Learn More Learn More](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/Encyclopedia_btn_18.gif) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303064626im_/http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/Park/images/blank1x1.gif) |
- Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
- The American Cetacean Society
- The National Marine Mammal Laboratory
|
|