Vaquita (Phocoena sinus) — one of very few photographs of this rarely seen porpoise.
Image: Paula Olson, NOAA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The vaquita is a tiny porpoise found only in the northern Gulf of California in Mexico — the smallest range of any marine mammal. It is assessed as Critically Endangered and is widely reported to be the most endangered marine mammal in the world.
It is rarely seen, with distinctive dark rings around the eyes and dark lip patches.
Range & habitat
Endemic to the northern Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico — the smallest range of any porpoise.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Drowning as bycatch in illegal gillnets (especially those set for the totoaba fish)
- An extremely small remaining population
Why it matters
The vaquita's plight shows how a single, indirect pressure — drowning in fishing nets set for other species — can drive an animal to the edge of extinction.
A porpoise endemic to the northern Gulf of California; widely reported as the world's most endangered marine mammal.
Gallery
Vaquita (Phocoena sinus) surfacing; photographed by NOAA researchers.
Image: Paula Olson, NOAA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for Vaquita
- IUCN Red List — look up Vaquita (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
- NOAA Fisheries
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the vaquita so endangered?
Where do vaquitas live?
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