Harbour Porpoise

The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is one of eight extant species of porpoise. It is one of the smallest species of cetacean. As its name implies, it stays close to coastal areas or river estuaries, and as such, is the most familiar porpoise to whale watchers. This porpoise often ventures up rivers, and has been seen hundreds of kilometres from the sea. The harbour porpoise may be polytypic, with geographically distinct populations representing distinct races: P. p. phocoena in the North Atlantic and West Africa, P. p. relicta in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, an unnamed population in the northwestern Pacific and P. p. vomerina in the northeastern Pacific.

From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Is it venomous or poisonous?

We have no record of Harbour Porpoise being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.

Easily confused with

• Cephalorhynchus eutropia
• Phocoena spinipinnis
• Cephalorhynchus heavisidii
• Kogia sima
• Neophocaena sunameri
• Cephalorhynchus hectori

Classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Artiodactyla

Family

Phocoenidae

Genus

Phocoena

Species

Phocoena phocoena

More species