vaquita

The vaquita, scientifically known as Phocoena sinus, is a small porpoise endemic to the northern Gulf of California, Mexico. It is the most endangered cetacean and is considered critically endangered due to ongoing threats from human activity. In the 2010s and early 2020s, population estimates indicated an extremely small number of individuals remaining, with consensus that the species is at very high risk of extinction without urgent conservation action.

Habitat and description: Vaquitas are found only in the shallow, turbid waters of the upper Gulf of California, where seagrass beds and coastal shallows are common. They are the smallest living porpoises, with a compact body and a short dorsal fin. Adults typically reach up to around 1.4 meters in length and have a pale gray to brownish coloration that helps blend with their coastal environment.

Behavior and diet: Vaquitas are usually observed alone or in very small groups. They rely on echolocation to locate prey and feed primarily on small fishes and crustaceans. Their movements are generally slow and they tend to inhabit nearshore habitats rather than open ocean waters.

Reproduction and life history: The vaquita has a low reproductive rate, with long intervals between births. Gestation lasts roughly 10 to 11 months, and females give birth to a single calf every one to two years, on average. Calves are cared for by the mother for an extended period before becoming independent.

Threats and conservation: The principal threat is bycatch in illegal and legal gillnets set to catch totoaba, a fish whose swim bladder is highly valued in some markets. Bycatch has driven dramatic declines in vaquita numbers. Conservation efforts include gillnet bans within the vaquita’s range, enhanced enforcement, removal of fishing gear, and research aimed at reducing bycatch and supporting recovery. The species remains one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world.