The Vaquita, (Phocoena sinus), was discovered and named in 1958. Vaquita is spanish for “little cow,” it is also known as the Cochito and Vaquita marina. The small porpoise is extremely rare as well as endangered. Vaquitas happen to be the smallest of the cetacean order, (whales, dolphins, and porpoises). The Phocoena sinus have dark rings surrounding their eyes and mouth. A thin line of this darker shade leads from the mouth to their similarly dark grey colored pectoral fins. Their dorsal fins have a dark grey surface, with pale grey sides, and a white abdominal surface with lone, light grey markings. Newborn vaquita tend to have darker coloration, as well as a wide gray periphery of color that runs from the head of the vaquita to its dorsal flukes, passing through the pectoral and dorsal fins.
This member of the Phocoenidae family resides in the gulf of california. Vaquitas preferred habitat are shallow lagoons, 10 to 28 m (33 to 92 ft) deep. Although Vaquitas are able to to survive in lagoon so shallow that their backs protrude the surface of the water. But this tends to be a last resort that most, if not, all Vaquita do their best to avoid. Vaquita use echolocation with high frequencies. Vaquita eat squid, crab, and a variety of fish, mostly living of the gulf’s flour. Vaquitas have the most restricted range of all of the cetacean. Vaquitas are also the only porpoise species adapted to living in warm water. Vaquita are able to tolerate water that oscillates from 14oC (57oF) during winter to 36oC (97oF) during summer, whereas most porpoises inhabit water that is cooler than 20oC (68oF).
Not much is know about the reproduction process of Vaquitas but most zoologists assume it to be similar to that of the harbor porpoise. Therefore meaning an eleven month long gestation periods and births occurring in February-April, peaking in late March to early April. The calves probably nurse for about six to eight months. Newborn calves are approximately 70-78 cm (31-38 in) long and weigh approximately 7.5 kg (17 lb). Adult Vaquitas tend to size around 1.2-1.5 m (3.9-4.9 ft) long and weigh about 45 to 50 kg (99 to 110 lb). Unlike most species the females tend to be larger than the males. Vaquitas tend to be shy and secretive animals. Vaquitas are closely related, morphologically, to the Burmeister’s porpoise which inhabit waters from Peru southward, 5000 km (3000 mi) away. It is theory that vaquita evolved from an ancestral population of Burmeister’s porpoise that migrated northward into the Gulf of California approximately one million years ago.
They share a habitat with the Totoaba, (large sea-bass species), this share is what has caused them both to be greatly endangered. Totoaba have been hunted to extreme endangerment, to the point where fishing for them is banned. Yet illegal poachers continue to fish using the also banned large gillnet. Although small nets still catch the small porpoise, therefore there should be a ban restricting the gulf of california, or at least the regions in which vaquita reside, as a fishing ground. Vaquitas should live an estimated 20 years or so if they manage to escape the gillnets.
With less than 60 individuals remaining, Vaquita are the most endangered marine mammal, let alone cetacean. If gillnets continue to be used by fishermen the chance of vaquita surviving to 2100 is slim. As of now, one of the only ways to save this poor creature is to ban the use of gillnets and encourage fishermen to use more vaquita friendly fishing gear.
Check out this petition, and sign it if you would like to help. You are free to find more petitions and send them to me in the suggestions box.
Sources:
"Vaquita." WWF. World Wildlife Fund, 2017. Web. 02 Feb. 2017. WWF
"Population of World's Most Endangered Marine Mammal Drops 40 Percent." WWF. World Wildlife Fund, 13 May 2016. Web. 02 Feb. 2017.
Pacific, Aquarium Of the. "Aquarium of the Pacific." Aquarium of the Pacific | Online Learning Center | Vaquita. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2017.
"Animal Info - Vaquita." Animal Info - Vaquita. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2017.
This member of the Phocoenidae family resides in the gulf of california. Vaquitas preferred habitat are shallow lagoons, 10 to 28 m (33 to 92 ft) deep. Although Vaquitas are able to to survive in lagoon so shallow that their backs protrude the surface of the water. But this tends to be a last resort that most, if not, all Vaquita do their best to avoid. Vaquita use echolocation with high frequencies. Vaquita eat squid, crab, and a variety of fish, mostly living of the gulf’s flour. Vaquitas have the most restricted range of all of the cetacean. Vaquitas are also the only porpoise species adapted to living in warm water. Vaquita are able to tolerate water that oscillates from 14oC (57oF) during winter to 36oC (97oF) during summer, whereas most porpoises inhabit water that is cooler than 20oC (68oF).
Not much is know about the reproduction process of Vaquitas but most zoologists assume it to be similar to that of the harbor porpoise. Therefore meaning an eleven month long gestation periods and births occurring in February-April, peaking in late March to early April. The calves probably nurse for about six to eight months. Newborn calves are approximately 70-78 cm (31-38 in) long and weigh approximately 7.5 kg (17 lb). Adult Vaquitas tend to size around 1.2-1.5 m (3.9-4.9 ft) long and weigh about 45 to 50 kg (99 to 110 lb). Unlike most species the females tend to be larger than the males. Vaquitas tend to be shy and secretive animals. Vaquitas are closely related, morphologically, to the Burmeister’s porpoise which inhabit waters from Peru southward, 5000 km (3000 mi) away. It is theory that vaquita evolved from an ancestral population of Burmeister’s porpoise that migrated northward into the Gulf of California approximately one million years ago.
They share a habitat with the Totoaba, (large sea-bass species), this share is what has caused them both to be greatly endangered. Totoaba have been hunted to extreme endangerment, to the point where fishing for them is banned. Yet illegal poachers continue to fish using the also banned large gillnet. Although small nets still catch the small porpoise, therefore there should be a ban restricting the gulf of california, or at least the regions in which vaquita reside, as a fishing ground. Vaquitas should live an estimated 20 years or so if they manage to escape the gillnets.
With less than 60 individuals remaining, Vaquita are the most endangered marine mammal, let alone cetacean. If gillnets continue to be used by fishermen the chance of vaquita surviving to 2100 is slim. As of now, one of the only ways to save this poor creature is to ban the use of gillnets and encourage fishermen to use more vaquita friendly fishing gear.
Check out this petition, and sign it if you would like to help. You are free to find more petitions and send them to me in the suggestions box.
Sources:
"Vaquita." WWF. World Wildlife Fund, 2017. Web. 02 Feb. 2017. WWF
"Population of World's Most Endangered Marine Mammal Drops 40 Percent." WWF. World Wildlife Fund, 13 May 2016. Web. 02 Feb. 2017.
Pacific, Aquarium Of the. "Aquarium of the Pacific." Aquarium of the Pacific | Online Learning Center | Vaquita. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2017.
"Animal Info - Vaquita." Animal Info - Vaquita. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2017.