Why do such small cetaceans live in cold water?
Lisa Moulton and Sandra DeMaria A paper for MSCI 375, Biology of Marine Mammals, submitted October 22, 1998 Harbor porpoises are the smallest cetaceans alive today. They are a very unique species, in that they live in very cold habitats yet are minute in comparison to other cetaceans, which live in the same climates. They are in the order Cetacea, suborder Odonotocete, and their scientific name is Phocoena phocoena. They are usually 1.5m long and weigh 60kg, but some may reach 1.8m long and 68kg. They have a beak-less profile and low, triangular dorsal fin with tubers along the edges. The back of the harbor porpoise varies from dark gray to black, while its belly may be light gray to white. The fins, tail and dorsal fin are all gray with two stripes that extend from the eyes to the interior angle of the fins. The harbor porpoise is known for the characteristic puffing sound it makes on exhalation, described as being much softer than the usual cetacean spouting. Their habitat ranges fro
