Dall's Porpoise
Phocoenidae dalli

Description - This porpoise has a stocky, black body with large white sections on the flanks and belly. The head is small and beakless. They are 6 to 8 feet long, weighing up to 400 pounds.

Distribution - They are commonly seen offshore and inshore from southern California to Alaska. Being a deepwater animal it comes close to shore where their are canyons or deep channels. Sightings are common in Hecate Strait, Queen Charlotte Strait, Juan de Fuca Strait, and exposed seaways like Queen Charlotte Sound, Dixon Entrance and Fitzhugh Sound.

Biology - This is the fastest swimmer of the cetacean reaching speeds of up to 35 mph. They kick up a rooster tail of spray when they surface and are enthusiastic bow riders on boats. Dall's Porpoise feeds on a wide variety of fish, squid and crustaceans. The killer whale is known to attack Dall's Porpoise; many die each year in fishing gear intended to catch fish and human hunters who relish porpoise meat are another enemy. They are not threatened in the west coast range.