Harbor Porpoise

The harbor porpoise is a small cetacean measuring 1.5–2 m and weighing approximately 45–65 kg, with females generally slightly larger than males. Its dark gray or black back grades into a paler underside, while the flippers, triangular dorsal fin, and tail remain dark. A black stripe extends from the mouth or eye toward each flipper. The head lacks a prominent forehead or beak and instead ends in a short, cone-shaped snout. Its small teeth are characteristically flattened and spade-shaped. (Animal Diversity Web)

Harbor porpoises inhabit shallow coastal waters of the North Atlantic, Arctic, and North Pacific, as well as parts of the Mediterranean and Black seas. They frequently enter bays, estuaries, and river mouths and occasionally move farther upriver. Individuals usually travel in pairs or groups of five to ten, although feeding concentrations may be much larger. They hunt using echolocation and consume herring, pollock, hake, sardines, cod, squid, shrimp, and other soft-bodied or non-spiny prey. Some populations move seasonally to avoid expanding sea ice. (Animal Diversity Web)