Phocoena phocoena

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Harbor Porpoise

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Laurasiatheria
Order : Artiodactyla
Suborder : Whippomorpha
Infraorder : Cetacea
Parvorder : Odontoceti
Superfamily : Delphinoidea
Family : Phocoenidae
Genus : Phocoena

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Linnaeus, C. 1758-01-01. Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm, 823 pp.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25033888

Original name as described

Delphinus phocoena

Other common names

Common Porpoise · Sea-hog · Sea-pig · Atlantic Harbor Porpoise · North Atlantic Harbor Porpoise · Black Sea Harbor Porpoise · Eastern North Pacific Harbor Porpoise · Eastern Pacific Harbor Porpoise

Type material

lost (number not known)

Type kind

nonexistent

Type locality

"Habitat in Oceano Europæo & Balthico" (= Baltic Sea, "Swedish Seas").

Biogeographic realm

Marine

Country distribution

Belgium · Bulgaria · Cape Verde · Canada · China · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Georgia · Germany · Greenland · Iceland · Ireland · Japan · South Korea · North Korea? · Latvia · Lithuania · Mauritania · Morocco · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Azores · Romania · Russia · Senegal · Spain · Sweden · Tunisia · Turkey · Ukraine · United Kingdom · United States

Subregion distribution

USA(AK,CA,WA,OR,ME,NH,CT,RI,MA,NY,NJ,DE,MD,DC,VA,NC)

Distribution notes

two stranding records from Florida during the 1980s (Smithsonian strandings database) and one in 2003 (NE Regional Office/NMFS strandings and entanglement database)

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1006450

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Known distribution is shown in green and predicted distribution is in yellow. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

Phocaena tuberculifera

J. E. Gray, 1865

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

tuberculifera

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1865.12.8.43 (= BMNH:Mamm:365b)

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/b81f7cd4-61d5-447e-8e6a-d02f5fab68a6

Authority page

320

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28497257

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Delphinus ventricosus

(de Lacépède, 1804)

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

ventricosa

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

Hunter's small grampus

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

xliii, 311

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51130815 https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51131169

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Fischer (1814:xxiii, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130084) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/12226)

Delphinus phocoena

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

phocoena

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

lost (number not known)

Type kind

nonexistent

Authority page

77

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25033888

Authority publication

Stockholm

Name usages

Cuvier (1797:175, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11637257) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38531)

Phocœna communis

Lesson, 1827

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

communis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Type

lost (number not known)

Type kind

nonexistent

Authority page

413

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207880

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1827:413, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207880) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  2. Mead & Brownell (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9684)

Phocæna vulgaris

S.D.W., 1836

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

vulgaris

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Type

lost (number not known)

Type kind

nonexistent

Authority page

70

Authority publication

The Analyst

Phocaena phocaena var. acuminata

van Deinse, 1935

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

acuminata

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

RMNH.MAM.5651

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.biodiversitydata.nl/naturalis/specimen/RMNH.MAM.5651

Authority page

115

Authority publication

Levende Natuur

Phocaena phocaena acuminata conidens

van Deinse, 1946

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

conidens

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

infrasubspecific

Type

RMNH.MAM.5651

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.biodiversitydata.nl/naturalis/specimen/RMNH.MAM.5651

Authority page

159

Authority publication

Zoologische Mededelingen

Phocæna brachycium

Cope, 1865

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

brachycium

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

untraced (number not known)

Type kind

syntypes

Authority page

279

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1682376

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia

Phocaena vomerina

Gill, 1865

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

vomerina

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:4746 (= USNM:MAMM:A4402), USNM:MAMM:A4149

Type kind

syntypes

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/37d2d5df1-85d5-4b6c-ab1a-4a553af6877d http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3c251ff8f-21fc-40b3-8bfd-65644736cd03

Authority page

178

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1682275

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia

Name usages

True (1885:590, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7306384) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35039)

Phocaena lineata

Cope, 1876

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

lineata

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:A15781 (= USNM:MAMM:12481)

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/35d1d7c1a-460f-4b3b-b59c-b2631e6e6a0f

Authority page

134

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/26298863

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia

Name usages

  1. True (1885:590, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7306384) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35039)
  2. Mead & Brownell (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9684)

Phocaena relicta

O. Abel, 1905

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

relicta

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type kind

syntypes

Authority page

387, 388

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35628079 https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35628080

Authority publication

Jahrbuch der Kaiserlich-Königlichen Geologischen Reichsanstalt

Phocœna ventricosa

Lesson, 1827

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

ventricosa

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

415

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207882

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Lesson (1827:415, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207882) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)

Phocaena communis

C. F. Cuvier, 1842

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

communis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

6

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/44518529

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Cuvier (1842:6, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/44518529) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60227)
  2. Kelaart (1852:90, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52257366) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38608)
  3. Blyth (1863:88, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47534769) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37155)
  4. True (1885:590, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7306384) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35039)

Delphinus communis

(Lesson, 1842)

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

communis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

199

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Lesson (1842:199) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)

Phocaena phocoena

V. O. Bailey, 1936

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

phocoena

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

349

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25806286

Authority publication

North American Fauna

Name usages

Bailey (1936:349, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25806286) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35313)

Phocaena phocaena

J. L. Davies, 1963

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

phocaena

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination · incorrect_subsequent_spelling

Authority page

111

Authority publication

Evolution

Name usages

Davies (1963:111) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/42155)

Phocoena phocoena

Corbet & J. Edwards Hill, 1980

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

phocoena

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

111

Authority publication

London

Name usages

  1. Corbet & Hill (1980:111) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  2. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:297) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  3. Mead & Brownell (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9684)
  4. O'Brien, Menninger & Nash (2006:549) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/7321)
  5. Mittermeier & Wilson (2014:543) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67175)
  6. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #17027) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  7. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #17027) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  8. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1006450) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  9. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/17027/247632759) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Phocoena phocoena phocoena

Mead & Brownell, 2005

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

phocoena

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Mead & Brownell (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9684)
  2. Mittermeier & Wilson (2014:543) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67175)

Phocoena phocoena relicta

Mead & Brownell, 2005

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

relicta

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Mead & Brownell (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9684)
  2. Mittermeier & Wilson (2014:543) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67175)

Phocoena phocoena vomerina

Mead & Brownell, 2005

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

vomerina

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Mead & Brownell (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9684)
  2. Mittermeier & Wilson (2014:543) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67175)

Delphinus Phocaena

(O. F. Müller, 1776)

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

phocaena

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

7

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41499648

Authority publication

Copenhagen

Name usages

  1. Erxleben (1777:618, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15873415) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36060)
  2. Fischer (1814:xxiii, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130084) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/12226)
  3. Illiger (1815:64, 110, 103, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080920, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080959, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080966) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38688)

Delphinus Phocaena fuscus

(Kerr, 1792)

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

fusca

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

363

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38664393

Authority publication

Edinburgh

Delphinus Phocena

(J. E. Gray, 1821)

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

phocena

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

310

Authority publication

London Medical Repository

Phocaena americana

J. A. Allen, 1869

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

americana

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

206

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6587821

Authority publication

Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology

Name usages

Mead & Brownell (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9684)

Phocoena Rondeletii

Giglioli, 1870

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

rondeletii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

78

Authority publication

Florence

Phocaena brachcium

E. R. Hall & Kelson, 1959

Family

Phocoenidae

Root name

brachcium

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

831

Authority publication

New York

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