Friday 27 November 2009

Common Porpoise stranding

A dead Common (or Harbour) Porpoise was stranded on the beach near Widewater lagoon, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex on 27/11/09


The porpoise was identified as a female as mammary slits were visible. The porpoise was 173cm in length.

3 teeth were removed (in a dead specimen teeth fallout very easy). Teeth are routinely removed where possible from dead strandings which can be used used as a means of aging the animal. A section of a tooth reveals growth rings (under the microscope) similar to a tree which can be used to determine the age.

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