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Phocoenidae - Porpoises

There are seven species in this family. Porpoises are found in all the oceans and are often found in rivers, estuaries, and bays.

Porpoises are 4-7 feet in length and weigh around 250 pounds. Porpoises don’t have beaks like dolphins; they have rounded snouts.

They have narrow flippers and a triangular dorsal fin. One species, the Indo-Pacific finless porpoise, has no dorsal fin.

Porpoises have spade-shaped teeth and eat fish, squid, and crustaceans.

Porpoises have a blow hole and use echolocation to navigate and locate prey.

  • The Indo-Pacific is found along the coasts of southern and eastern Asia, from the Arabian Gulf, east to Japan and south to Java, Indonesia. It is found in both freshwater and saltwater habitats. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoise
    (Neophocaena phocaenoides)
    The Indo-Pacific is found along the coasts of southern and eastern Asia, from the Arabian Gulf, east to Japan and south to Java, Indonesia. It is found in both freshwater and saltwater habitats. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The harbor porpoise is found in cold temperate to sub-polar waters of the Northern Hemisphere. It is found in New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Harbor Porpoise
    (Phocoena phocoena)
    The harbor porpoise is found in cold temperate to sub-polar waters of the Northern Hemisphere. It is found in New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The vaquita is found in upper Gulf of California, Mexico. There are only around 400-600 vaquita. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered
    Vaquita
    (Phocoena sinus)
    The vaquita is found in upper Gulf of California, Mexico. There are only around 400-600 vaquita. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered

Did You Know?

The finless porpoise is one of the species found in this family.
The finless porpoise is one of the species found in this family.

World Status Key

Status and range is taken from IUCN Redlist

Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct
Not Enough Data

U.S. Status Key

Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife

Threatened in US
Endangered in US
Introduced

NH Status Key

Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Threatened in NH
Endangered in NH
Breeds in NH (birds)

Location Key

Africa
Asia
Australia/Oceania
Europe
North/Central America
south america alt
South America

New Hampshire Species

No animals found.

Other Species Around the World

No animals found.

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