Abstract

Among captive harbour porpoises, Phocaena phocaena (L.) epimeletic behaviour has been observed.
Nurturant behaviour was performed by a juvenile female and a juvenile male toward sucklings and evidence is given that nurturant behaviour is also performed in adult females toward a stillborn infant.
Succorant behaviour was observed between two juveniles where the behaviour was elicited in the male to the female.
The harbour porpoise thus differs from other cetaceans so far described, in that juveniles can take part in succorant behaviour and also in that male specimens can take part in nurturant behaviour.