On The Brink

THE VANISHING VAQUITA

1

The vaquita, Phocoena sinus, is the world’s smallest cetacean, weighing around 55 kilos.

2

Females grow to be around 1.5 metres long. They are longer than the males, whose length tops out at about 1.4 metres.

3

They eat small fish and squid.

4

They have unique facial markings with a black ring around each eye and curved, black lips that make them look as if they are smiling.

5

Their dorsal surface is dark grey, their sides pale grey, and their underside is white with light grey markings. Newborn calves are darker.

6

Vaquita have proportionally large dorsal fins, possibly as an adaptation to warmer water to allow heat to dissipate.

7

Like other porpoises, vaquitas use sonar to communicate and navigate.

8

Vaquitas are very rarely seen. When they are spotted, they are either alone or in small groups of two or three. They are thus thought to be quite solitary animals.

9

Researchers estimate that vaquita live for around 20 years.