Phocoenoides dalli
Silhouette: Chris huh · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~80% 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 |
Likely
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Dall's Porpoise sighting in Kenai Fjords National Park on a given day, based on 29 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 10th most-seen of the 14 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
July
In that month about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Dall's Porpoise in Kenai Fjords National Park on a given day, against about 20% in January–February and April, the lowest months. March and October–December have too few records to rate.
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.
Yes
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Dall's Porpoise sightings, Kenai Fjords National Park has the highest daily chance: about 40%. Next come Great Bear Rainforest (Canada, about 20%).
Same order: Cetacea
The closest relatives of the Dall's Porpoise that you can see in Kenai Fjords National Park (order Cetacea) are Humpback Whale (about 80%), Killer Whale (about 70%) and Fin Whale (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Dall's Porpoise is recorded against all the mammals logged in Kenai Fjords National Park (29 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.
