Vaquita

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Vaquita

Vaquita (pronunciation: /vəˈkiːtə/; Spanish: [baˈkita]; from Spanish vaquita, "little cow") is a species of porpoise endemic to the northern part of the Gulf of California. The term is also used to refer to the smallest known cetacean.

Etymology

The term "vaquita" is Spanish for "little cow". The name is derived from the Spanish word vaca meaning "cow" and the diminutive suffix -ita.

Description

The vaquita is distinguished by its small size, with adults rarely exceeding 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in length. It has a characteristic dark ring around the eyes and patches on the lips that form a thin line from the mouth to the pectoral fins.

Habitat and Distribution

The vaquita is endemic to the northern part of the Gulf of California, a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from mainland Mexico. The species is found along a narrow coastal strip, approximately 40 km (25 mi) wide.

Conservation Status

The vaquita is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The primary threats to the species are incidental capture in gillnets and habitat degradation.

Related Terms

  • Porpoise: A group of fully aquatic marine mammals, similar in appearance to a dolphin, part of the family Phocoenidae.
  • Cetacean: A diverse group of fully aquatic marine mammals that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
  • Gulf of California: A body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from mainland Mexico.
  • International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): An international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski