Abstract

Three anomalously white harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) were reported from 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 Records (published and unpublished) of anomalously white harbour porpoises in the world were reviewed.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.