Mark Hudson

Vaquita live in shallow lagoons no more than 25 km (16 mi) from shore where there is a strong tidal mix. Although they can survive in lagoons that are so shallow that their back protrudes above the surface of the water, they prefer water that is 10 to 28 m (33 to 92 ft) deep. … Read more

Put together, Phocoena sinus is the “porpoise of the Gulf of California.” The species is also known as the cochito, yet this common name is used to describe several marine animals in the geographic area. The name vaquita was popularized from local fishermen’s name for the species. Scientists first identified the vaquita in 1958. In … Read more

Vaquitas have small, strong bodies with a rounded head and no beak. They have black patches around their eyes and lips and small, spade-shaped teeth. Vaquitas also have triangle-shaped dorsal fins in the middle of their backs, which are taller and wider than in other porpoises. A common inquiry we ran across in our research … Read more

Interesting Facts The vaquita is the most endangered marine mammal in the world. First assessed as critically endangered in a 1996 IUCN report, the vaquita has become a symbol for environmental sustainability. Another frequent query is “When was the vaquita listed as endangered?”. Vaquitas have been listed as an endangered species since 1985 under the … Read more

International Save the Vaquita Day (July 18, 2020) is intended to be an annual event similar to Earth Day, but with a specific focus on raising awareness and appreciation of the world’s most endangered marine mammal, the vaquita (Phocoena sinus). One of the next things we asked ourselves was, is it too late to save … Read more

Vaquitas have the smallest range of any whale, dolphin, or porpoise. They only live in the northern part of the Gulf of California, an area that is rich in fish and shrimp. Fishing is thus a major source of income for the people there, who almost exclusively use gillnets, but vaquitas can also become accidentally … Read more

Vaquitas have never been held in captivity. It is one of the rarest and most-endangered mammal species in the world. Its fate is tied to that of the upper Gulf of California ecosystem. The vaquita could go extinct in as little as two years if we do not act NOW. Vaquitas only live in one … Read more

The vaquita is the smallest cetacean on earth and is a cousin of the largest animal in the world, the blue whale. They feast on fish, prawns and crabs but are known to have particular preference for squid. Unlike dolphins that will follow boats, vaquitas are shy, private creatures and as such very little is … Read more

In 1995, vaquita were listed as endangered under the ESA. In July 2017, a federal agreement permanently banned all gillnets within the vaquita’s range in the Gulf of California, except those used for fishing two species: curvina and sierra. The vaquita is the most endangered cetacean in the world. With as few as around 10 … Read more

The vaquita is a shy member of the porpoise family. Vaquitas are the most endangered of the world’s marine mammals. Less than 30 vaquitas remain in the wild, and entanglement in gillnets is driving the species toward extinction. Vaquitas are a truly unique species adapted to a curious marine habitat. All porpoises live in highly … Read more