The Most Endangered Marine Mammal in the World

Vaquitas, by Paula Olson, NOAA contractor, P.D. image, via Wikimedia Commons

 The Vaquita is actually a porpoise, rather than a dolphin, and is the world's most endangered sea mammal. Yes, they are mammals, as they breathe air and give birth to live young.

As far as we know, they live in only one place on earth - in the warm waters of the northern Sea of Cortez, which is also known as the Gulf of California. The species was only discovered in 1958.  Unlike dolphins, to whom they are related, they flee from, rather than approach boats, so they are harder to study, and there is still much to be learned about them.  

Scientists think there are at most perhaps 200 of them in the wild. 

Vaquitas are smaller than other porpoise species.  Fully grown, they measure around five feet long, and weigh only about 120 pounds.  They don't seem to travel in the familiar pods, like dolphins.  They've only been observed swimming alone, or with one or two other individuals.

Notice the shape of the head of the following porpoise in the photo above.  Generally,the shape of the head is one of the ways you can distinguish a porpoise from a dolphin. More differences are listed farther down on this page. 

 To learn more about how you can adopt one of these rare marine mammals, or donate to the World Wildlife Fund, visit the WWF's pages about the Vaquita.

The seven species of porpoises, five have fins on their backs, and two do not.  

Those with dorsal fins include the Vaquita, Harbor, Spectacled, Dall's, and Burmeister's Porpoises. 

The two with no dorsals are the Indo-Pacific finless porpoise and the Narrow-ridged finless porpoise.

Of the seven species, three have been assigned a Conservation Status.

A Harbor Porpoise, C.C. 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Here's touching rare footage of a live baby Vaquito, who was separated from his mother. Humans tried to save him, and in this video, the story is told from the baby's point of view.

It highlights the grave danger in which the species finds itself, and points out the main threat, as well as what is being done to help the porpoises survive.

It's in Spanish, with English subtitles, and reminds me of the old phrase, "Out of the mouths of babes..."

It seems that some people are confused about the difference between dolphins and porpoises.  A few even seen to think the the two terms both refer to a bunch of 'big fish.' They don't.  There are major differences between the two.

They do have quite a bit in common, though.  Here are some of them:

• Neither is a fish.  Both porpoises and dolphins are marine mammals.
• Both have blowholes atop their heads, through which they breath.  (air, like us)
• Both are highly intelligent.
• They can recognize their own reflections in a mirror.
• Also in common is their use of echolocation for navigation and communication, though dolphins seem to communicate that way to a greater degree.

Below are some basic points to help you remember the differences.