| Vaquita | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| Common Name | Cochito, Desert Porpoise, Gulf of California Harbor Porpoise, Gulf of California Porpoise, and Gulf Porpoise. |
| Range | Gulf of California |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Cetacea |
| Family | Phocoenidae |
| Genus | Phocoena |
| Species | Phocoena sinus |
| Conservation Status | |
 Critically Endangered | |
The Vaquita, (Phocoena sinus), is a rare species of porpoise. It is endemic to the northern part of the Gulf of California. Estimates of the number of individuals alive range from 100 to 300. The word "vaquita" is Spanish for little cow. Since the Baiji is believed to have gone extinct in 2006, the vaquita has taken on the title of the most endangered cetacean in the world. It is pronounced "VUH-KEET-uh".
Other names include cochito, desert porpoise, Gulf of California harbor porpoise, Gulf of California porpoise, and gulf porpoise.
The species is currently on the brink of extinction, with only up to 3-10 left in the wild, and currently listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List; the steep decline in abundance is primarily due to bycatch in gillnets from the illegal totoaba fishery
Biology[]
Behavior[]
There are very few records of the vaquita in the wild. They appear to swim and feed in a leisurely manner, but they are elusive and will avoid boats of any kind. Vaquitas rise to breathe with a slow, forward-rolling movement that barely disturbs the surface of the water, and then disappear quickly, often for a long time. In order to explore their environment and communicate with each other, vaquitas use sonar and produce high-frequency clicks that are used in echolocation.
Description[]
The Vaquita is been known as the world's smallest porpoise in the cetacean family. They have a triangular dorsal back fin, a rounded head, and no distinguished beak. The males have were 140 centimeters long while the females were 150 centimeters long. The vaquita is nickname the "panda of the sea" because it has black patches that surround its lips and eyes.[1]