Fishin' for Facts: Vaquita   
                                                                                        (Copyrighted photo courtesy of *Thomas A. Jefferson)

Vaquita are one of or THE most endangered whale species in the world.

Common names: Vaquita (vah-kee-tah) or
                  Gulf of California Harbor Porpoise
Scientific name:  

    Family Phocoenidae (porpoises):
        Genus Species: Phocoena sinus

Vaquita are among the smallest whales. At 3.9 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) long, an average 14 year old person is as long or longer than an adult vaquita!  Vaquita weigh about 65 to 121 lb (29 to 55 kg)  Newborn calves are 22 to 30 inches (.6 to .8 m) long. The calf weighs a whopping 16.5 lbs (7.5 kg).

A variety of fish, squid, and crustaceans.

Vaquita only live in the shallow coastal waters in the Gulf of California.

    Vaquita are so cute and so rare. If you're ever in the Gulf of California, and very very lucky, you'd know it's a vaquita by its black lipstick and glasses! Vaquita have black lips, chin, and eye rings.

    All the world’s vaquita can be found in one area that’s slightly smaller than the state of Rhode Island.  This is the smallest range for any whale species...or marine mammal. [Vaquita are found in a 900 square mile area, Rhode Island is 1044 square miles.]

 Bigfoot’s cousin? Look up shy in the dictionary and you wouldn’t even find a photo of a vaquita, you'd find a blank space where a photo of a vaquita should be! Unlike its show-off cousins, like spinner dolphins or humpback whales, this elusive porpoise is rarely seen.  This makes it very hard for scientists to study them. According to Dr. Barbara Taylor (read her entire interview), fishermen who have lived and fished in the area their entire lives don’t believe they exist.

Vaquita travel in small groups up to 3 animals. They prefer to hide and hunt close to shore in the dark muddy waters of the Colorado River Delta. They are generally found in water less than 165 feet (50 m) deep.

Females are a little bigger than males. Calves are born after a little more than a 10 month gestation. Most are born between February and April. The calves nurse for up to a year.

Vaquita probably live up to 21 years.