Phocoena phocoena

SIZE: Male- 1.2-1.8m, Female- 1.5-1.9m

The shy and small harbour porpoise is probably much more common around us than we actually realise. They tend to avoid boats and, due to their small size, can usually only be spotted when the sea is very calm.

Porpoises are distinct from dolphins and have different-shaped teeth: their teeth are small and spade-shaped, rather than the conical teeth found in dolphins. There are only seven species of porpoise found around the world, and the harbour porpoise is the only porpoise species found in the North Atlantic.

Porpoises include the rarest of all cetaceans, the vaquita, which is critically endangered and has only around 10 individuals remaining. Porpoises often live close to shore and are particularly vulnerable to becoming entangled in fishing gear and dying in nets. This is considered one of the greatest threats to harbour porpoises around Iceland.