Phocoenoides dalli
Silhouette: Chris huh · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%
Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) is a species of porpoise endemic to the North Pacific. It is the largest of porpoises and the only member of the genus Phocoenoides. The species is named after American naturalist W. H. Dall.
Dall's porpoise is the only member of the genus Phocoenoides. The dalli and truei types were initially described as separate species in 1911, but later studies determined that the available evidence only supported the existence of one species. Currently, these two color morphs are recognized as distinct subspecies, Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli dalli) and True's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli truei).
Dall's porpoises can be easily distinguished from other porpoises and cetacean species within their range. They have a wide, robust body, a comparatively tiny head, and no distinguished beak. Their flippers are positioned at the front of the body and a triangular dorsal fin sits mid-body. Patterns of coloration are highly variable, but Dall's porpoises are mostly black, have white to grey patches on the flank and belly, and frosting on the dorsal fin and trailing edge of the fluke.
They are the largest living porpoise species... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenai Fjords National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Great Bear Rainforest | 🇨🇦 Canada |
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Dall's Porpoise sighting in Great Bear Rainforest on a given day, based on 99 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 11th most-seen of the 35 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June to September
In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Dall's Porpoise in Great Bear Rainforest on a given day, against under 5% in February, April and December, the lowest months.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Dall's Porpoise sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
2nd of 2
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Dall's Porpoise sightings, Great Bear Rainforest ranks 2nd at about 20%. The best odds are in Kenai Fjords National Park (United States, about 40%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Dall's Porpoise is recorded against all the mammals logged in Great Bear Rainforest (99 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
