Vaquita Porpoise | 29 Aug 2025

Source: DTE

A new report has highlighted that only about 10 vaquita porpoise, the world’s rarest marine mammal, remain in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico. 

• Their numbers have plummeted due to entanglement in illegal gillnets used for catching totoaba (an endangered fish prized for its swim bladder).

Vaquita Porpoise (Phocoena sinus)

• About: The vaquita porpoise (little cow in Spanish), is the world’s most endangered marine mammal discovered in 1958.
  • Porpoises are the smallest members of the cetacean family (whales, dolphins, porpoises) and are distant relatives of dolphins, diverging around 15 million years ago. 
• Habitat: Marine, restricted to the northern Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico, mostly in shallow waters up to 50 m deep.
• Physical Characteristics: Vaquitas have dark rings around the eyes, dark patches on lips stretching to the fins. Newborns are darker with a gray fringe. 
  • Their large dorsal fin helps release body heat in warm waters.
• Behavior: Shy and usually stay near the shore. They avoid boats and are mostly solitary or in very small groups, unlike other cetaceans that travel in large pods.
• Threats: Bycatch in illegal gillnets set for the vulnerable totoaba fish.
• Protection Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered.
  • CITES: Appendix I