Harbour porpoise

The harbour porpoise is a small toothed whale that inhabits coastal and shelf waters of the Northern Hemisphere, especially the North Atlantic and North Pacific.

Porpoise: Porpoises are small toothed whales in the family Phocoenidae, distinct from dolphins in body shape and teeth. The harbour porpoise is the best-known member of this small-whale family.
Porpoise feeding ecology: Porpoise feeding ecology concerns the prey, foraging behavior, and diet of porpoises. Harbour porpoises hunt fish and cephalopods, with prey varying by region and season.
Bycatch: Bycatch is the unintended capture of animals during fishing operations. Entanglement in fishing gear is a major source of harbour porpoise mortality.
Baltic harbour porpoise: The Baltic harbour porpoise is a small, critically endangered population inhabiting the Baltic Sea. Its very low abundance makes it a prominent conservation case within the species.
Cetacea: Cetacea is the mammalian order comprising whales, dolphins, and porpoises. This order places the harbour porpoise among aquatic mammals that evolved from land-dwelling ancestors.
Porpoise echolocation: Porpoise echolocation is the production and reception of ultrasonic clicks used to detect nearby objects. Harbour porpoises emit narrow-band, high-frequency clicks suited to short-range sensing.
Acoustic monitoring: Acoustic monitoring uses recorded sound to detect and track animals or environmental conditions. Porpoise click detectors can reveal presence where visual surveys are difficult.
Black Sea harbour porpoise: The Black Sea harbour porpoise is a regional population of harbour porpoises in the Black Sea. Its isolation and regional threats distinguish it from North Atlantic populations.
Echolocation: Echolocation is the use of reflected sound to detect objects and navigate. The harbour porpoise relies on high-frequency clicks to find prey and sense its surroundings.
Diving physiology: Diving physiology describes the bodily adjustments that allow animals to remain underwater and tolerate pressure. These adaptations support repeated dives while the porpoise searches for prey.

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