INDIVIDUAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION IN PIGMENTATION PATTERNS OF THEHARBOR PORPOISE, PHOCOENA-PHOCOENA (L)

Photographs of 393 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena (L.)) from the waters of Denmark (n = 224), Japan (n = 19), and Canada (Bay of Fundy (n = 95), Gulf of St. Lawrence (n = 40), and coast of British Columbi a (n = 15)) were analyzed for variation in pigmentation patterns. Anim als were classified according to morphs of each of 12 pigmentation cha racters. Patterns were not unique to particular areas and cannot be us ed as a tool for absolute discrimination among geographically isolated groups of porpoises. However, statistical frequencies of certain morp hs of seven characters varied significantly among the five geographica l groups, matching some of the subpopulations proposed by Gaskin in 19 84. Pigmentation patterns of harbour porpoises were unique to each ani mal and were not gender dependent. Variation in pigmentation patterns may have implications for intra-individual recognition. All porpoises showed bilaterally asymmetrical pigmentation, providing a new record o f consistent asymmetry in an odontocete species.