The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is a critically endangered marine mammal in the porpoise family. The name “vaquita” means “little cow” in Spanish, a reference to the marine mammal’s markings. Vaquitas are dark gray with black markings around their eyes and lips. They have round heads and a large dorsal fin compared to other porpoises.
Vaquitas are only found in the shallow waters of the northern Gulf of California, Mexico. Because their environment is limited and fishing is a major source of income for many people in this area the Vaquitas are critically endangered. They are often caught in gillnets which are the most common form of net used by fishermen in the area to capture shrimp and other small fish.
Behavior and Diet
Vaquitas are often found alone or in pairs. These shy animals usually avoid boats with active engines.
Vaquitas feed on shrimp, small fish, squid and octopuses. Some scientists think that their unique facial markings play a role in helping them hunt food, which they do using echolocation. This is a technique used by lots of whales, dolphins and porpoises and involves making high pitched clicks that bounce off objects around them.
Habitat
The vaquita has the smallest geographical range of any marine mammal. It only lives in the northern part of the Gulf of California in Mexico. They prefer the shallow water near the coast, which makes it harder to protect vaquitas from human activity.
Conservation Status
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, the vaquita is a critically endangered species.
After 567 vaquita were found in the first vaquita abundance study conducted in 1997, since then their population has significantly decreased. There were only 59 Vaquitas back in 2015 and now recent surveys place their numbers at 5-19, with new calves spotted each of the last couple of years. Sadly 90% of the population was lost between 2011 and 2016 alone.
Although the Mexican government has now banned the use of gillnets that were killing them, illegal fishing is still rife in the vaquitas’ home and discarded nets are a massive problem for these little porpoises.
How are Vaquitas different from Dolphins?
Although they bear a visual resemblance to dolphins, vaquitas are not dolphins; they are members of the porpoise family (Phocoenidae). Dolphins belong to the Delphinidae, Platanistidae and Iniidae families. Dolphins and vaquitas are cetaceans (infraorder Cetacea).
Fun Facts:
Vaquitas are the smallest porpoise and among the smallest cetaceans.
The vaquita was only discovered in 1958.
The vaquita can give birth annually.
Scientists suggested imminent vaquita extinction in the mid-2000’s but as of 2023, there are still between 6-19 vaquitas alive.
Dolphins, whales and vaquitas are all in the same family known as cetaceans, which are large sea mammals characterized by their appearance, intelligence and carnivorous (meat eating) diets. They also need to come to the surface to breathe.
Unlike dolphins that will follow boats, vaquitas are shy, private creatures and as such very little is known about them.
Despite international campaigns and celebrity involvement, conservation initiatives have not been successful.The lack of political will to enforce environmental laws resulting in continued illegal fishing activities. The continuing practice of illegal species trafficking around the world not only threatens species like the vaquita but also the whole marine ecosystem.
But despite the vaquita estimated to be down to its last few individuals, there is reason for hope. According to current research, there is sufficient genetic variety in the vaquita population that is still present for it to recover, but illegal fishing has to end right away. Do your part and get involved, learn more – https://www.vaquitacpr.org/