First records of anomalously white harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the Turkish seas with a global review

Abstract

Three anomalously white harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) were reported in Turkish Seas. One of them was bycaught on 19 June 2011 in bottom gill nets off the eastern coast of the Turkish Black Sea. The second one was observed four times in May and early June 2012 in the Istanbul Strait. The last one was stranded alive on 7 July 2012 in the Istanbul Strait. Records (published and unpublished) of anomalously white harbour porpoises in the world were reviewed. In total, 34 records were found from the world seas: the Black Sea, North Sea, Baltic Sea, North Atlantic Ocean and North Eastern Pacific Ocean. According to these records, three patterns of pigmentation were suggested.