Did you know that you can spot porpoises and dolphins (and seals!) in the water around Fleetwood?
Dolphins and porpoises are, in fact, not fish at all! They are mammals that live predominantly in the sea, although a few species live in rivers.
The name porpoise comes from the Latin words porcus (pig) and piscis (fish), so porpoise literally means 'sea pig'.
You can tell dophins and porpoises apart by looking at a few key features:
- Dolphins have a bulbous head, a long nose or beak, and a curved dorsal or back fin.
- Porpoises have a triangular shaped fin, a rounded face, and are fatter and shorter than a dolphin.
If you spot a dophin or a porpoise, you might hear a ‘chuff’ as they come up for air!
Both species can be harmed by shipping and fishing nets, and face threats from pollution such as plastics in the sea.
The porpoise is a ‘Royal Fish', meaning that they all belong to the Crown. Anything that happens to a porpoise has to be reported. Unfortunately, not every story is a happy one.
Want to colour-in your own picture of a porpoise? Click the download link below!
