DALL'S PORPOISE

A special characteristic of Dall’s porpoises is their distinctive color pattern: a black body with a conspicuous white lateral patch on the left, right, and underside. Dall’s porpoises can dive up to 1,640 feet to feed on small schooling fish (e.g., anchovies, herring, and hake), mid- and deep-water fish (e.g., lanternfish and smelts), cephalopods (e.g., squid and octopus), and occasionally crustaceans (e.g., crabs and shrimp). Feeding usually occurs at night when their prey migrates up toward the surface.

These porpoises are considered the fastest swimmers among small cetaceans, reaching speeds of 34 miles per hour over short distances. As rapid, social swimmers, Dall’s porpoises are also attracted to fast moving vessels and commonly bowride beside ships. They briskly surface while swimming, creating a “”rooster tail”” of water spray that is a unique characteristic of the species.