AnimalID

Name

5408

Harbor Porpoise

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Description:

The harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is one of the world's smallest toothed whales (rarely exceeding five feet in length. The harbor (or common) porpoise is shy as well as small and stays as far away from boats as it can, making it hard to view members of this species in the wild.

These migratory animals spend their time in the shallow waters of the northern hemisphere. In the summer, they can often be seen very close to shore, but they are more difficult to locate in the winter. Most likely, they travel farther from shore and from areas inhabited by humans at this time of year. Harbor porpoises prefer temperate to sub-Arctic conditions. Migrating allows these animals to follow their food supply and avoid being trapped by ice floes in the winter. Although occasionally seen alone, the harbor porpoise prefers to travel either in pairs or in small groups of fewer than ten animals. Always social, a harbor porpoise will come to the aid of another member of its pod that is sick, stranded, or otherwise in trouble.

The identifying feature of the harbor porpoise is its dorsal fin. The harbor porpoise has a distinctive triangular dorsal fin with a curving edge. Like other porpoises, it has no external beak, but its powerful jaws have 22 to 28 teeth on each side of the upper jaw and 21 to 26 on each side of the lower jaw. Harbor Porpoises have no distinct pigmentation patterns. Their coloring is dark brown or dark gray with a lightening in color along the flanks.

Harbor porpoise calves frequently consume krill, squid, and shrimp, but the diet of adults is mainly fish. Adult animals usually choose to hunt schools of non-spiny fish, including herring, capelin, pollack, hake, cod, mackerel, anchovies, and whiting. Because harbor porpoises need to consume 35 to 40 times their body weight each year, they spend a great deal of time hunting. Although they rarely breach the way larger cetaceans do, Harbor Porpoises have been known to leap above the surface while chasing prey.

While they hunt, a pod of porpoises must keep a watch out for predators. Killer Whales and Great White Sharks prey upon large numbers of harbor porpoises. Predators are not the only risk. As the seasons change and the pods migrate away from the coast, entire traveling groups may be trapped underwater by ice. Humans create other risks. Each year, large numbers of porpoises are caught up in the fishing nets laid on the sea floor. Unable to return to the surface to breathe, trapped porpoises eventually drown.

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General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

To build a good animal exhibit you need to ask a few questions: (click them for the answers)

Which tank wall is suitable for this animal?     Remember that all tanks need a tank filter!

How big should the exhibit be and what Depth should the tank be?

What foliage should be used?

What rocks should be used?

What shelter does the animal need?

What toy does the animal like?

Does this animal perform in a show?

No

TankWallName

Purchase Cost

See Through

Height

Strength

Life

Cost Effective

Concrete Edge and Glass

$125

Yes

3

500

13

10.4

Atlantean Tank Wall

$125

Yes

3

500

13

10.4

Solid Concrete

$125

No

3

500

13

10.4

Black Bar and Glass

$130

Yes

3

500

13

10.0

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Who do they like to live with and eat?

Animal Density

Min

Number of Animals/Exhibit

Max

20

4

8

Terrain Name

Value

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Rocks

Foliage

Exhibit Size

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ID

Value

TreeName

Foliage Effect

Cost/ Square

Cost Effective

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Who do they like to live with and eat?

ID

Value

RockName

Size X

Size Y

Rock

Rock Effect

Purchase Cost

Cost Effective

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Who do they like to live with and eat?

Shelter ID

Shelter Name

Shelter Value

Shelter Effect

Purchase Cost

Capacity

none

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ToyID

ToyName

ToyValue

PurchaseCost

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Compatible Animals

Prey Animals

KeeperFoodType:

Fish

Man

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?