19. Sometimes mistaken for a killer whale or orca, a Dall’s porpoise inhabits subarctic temperature waters.
Because of the coloring of the Dall’s porpoise, it is sometimes confused for an orca. However, a closer look will tell you the difference. Its head is a different shape and much smaller than that of a killer whale. Dall’s porpoise is also a lot smaller than an orca overall, but it can still be easy to confuse the two. Dall’s porpoises have been seen in groups ranging between 10 to 20 individuals, and when groups merge, several thousand porpoises can be seen swimming together. These marine mammals like to hunt in large groups and are often seen associating with Pacific white-sided dolphins or pilot whales. Dall’s porpoises are a fast-swimming species. It mostly eats small fish and octopuses and may consume krill on occasion. They generally feed at night and usually eat about 28 to 30 pounds of food every day. They serve as prey to killer whales and great white sharks and live in pods that are anywhere between two and twelve in number.