Spectacled porpoise

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Spectacled porpoise
Systematics
Order : Whales (cetacea)
Subordination : Toothed whales (Odontoceti)
Superfamily : Dolphin-like (Delphinoidea)
Family : Porpoises (Phocoenidae)
Genre : Phocoena
Type : Spectacled porpoise
Scientific name
Phocoena dioptrica
( Lahille , 1912)

The spectacled porpoise ( Phocoena dioptrica , syn .: Australophocoena dioptrica ) is the largest representative of the porpoise (Phocoenidae). A white ring around the eyes, which gives the animal its name, is characteristic of the species.

distribution

Distribution area

Spectacled porpoises live circumpolarly in the oceans of the southern hemisphere. Many strandings are known from Tierra del Fuego . Other sightings are known from the southern Pacific ( New Zealand , southern Australia ) and the southern Indian Ocean (around the Kerguelen ). It used to be assumed that they were residents of the coastal regions, whereas today they are more likely to be considered to be inhabitants of the high seas.

description

Spectacled porpoises are robustly built whales. The upper side is dark blue or blackish in color and separated from the light underside by a clear line. There is a gray spot on either side of the tail fin stalk. The rounded, triangular fin is significantly larger in males than in females. The flippers are white, the fin is black, and the back of the fluke is black, while the underside is white. The small, rounded head is characterized by a lighter eye ring. The 17 to 23 teeth in the upper jaw and 16 to 20 teeth in the lower jaw are spatula-shaped. This feature generally distinguishes porpoises from dolphins . The crack in the mouth is lined with black. Adult animals reach a length of 2 meters (females) to 2.2 meters (males) and a weight of 55 to 80 kg, in exceptional cases up to 115 kg.

Way of life

Spectacled porpoises live solitary or in pairs. They feed on fish and octopus . They avoid the vicinity of ships. Their reproductive biology is unknown.

threat

The total population or the degree of exposure are not known.

literature

  • Rüdiger Wandrey: Whales and Seals of the World . Franckh-Kosmos Verlags GmbH, 1997, ISBN 3-440-07047-6

Web links

Commons : Phocoena dioptrica  - collection of images, videos and audio files