PHYLUM: Chordata
CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Cetacea
FAMILY: Phocenidae
GENUS: Phocoena
SPECIES: spinipinnis
TOOTHED or TOOTHLESS (BALEEN): Toothed
FRESHWATER, SALTERWATER or BRACKISH: Saltwater
HABITAT: Along the coast of the southern portion of South America
LENGTH (maximum): 6Ft
WEIGHT (maximum): 172-250 lbs
RELATIVE SPECIES: Vaquita, Spectacled porpoise
OTHER NAMES: Marsopa espinosa
NEIGHBORING SPECIES: Franciscana, Spectacled porpoise, Chilean dolphin
PREDATORS: Humans
THREATS: Trapped in fishing gear, used as food and bait, harpooned for sport.
DIET: Anchovies, hake, silverside, squid and even snails.
MANNER OF FEEDING: Unknown
BEHAVIOR: Travel alone or in pairs. Cryptic at the surface, and hard to observe. Will scatter when approached by a boat or vessel.
REPRODUCTION: High reproductive rate. Gestation lasts 11-12 months.
LIFE SPAN: At least 12 years
COOL/GROSS/WEIRD:
- Usually, about two-thirds of all adult females are pregnant at any given time.
- Referred to as “thorny porpoise” because of small projections located on the dorsal fin.
SOURCES:
- Knopf, Alfred A. Guide to Marine Mammals of the World.Random House. 2002
- http://www.cms.int/reports/small_cetaceans/data/p_spinipinnis/p_spinipinnis.htm
-TSF-
