Vaquita: Meet World's Smallest And Rarest Cetacean
By: EJazUlHaqBhat
Image: fisheries.noaa.gov
The vaquita, the world's smallest and rarest cetacean, is a porpoise species found only in the northern Gulf of California
Image: fisheries.noaa.gov
Vaquitas are among the smallest cetaceans, measuring around 5 feet in length
Image: fisheries.noaa.gov
They have a stocky body, rounded head, and no beak. Their backs are dark grey, while their bellies are lighter grey
Image: worldwildlife.org
Distinctive features include black patches around their eyes and lips, and a tall, triangular dorsal fin
Image: Pexels
They inhabit shallow, turbid waters, often near the shoreline. Vaquitas primarily feed on fish, crustaceans, and squid
Image: Pexels
Vaquitas are endemic (only found) in one small area in the north of the Gulf of California off Mexico
Image: Pexels
They produce intense, narrow-band, high-frequency echolocation clicks, like other porpoises, ranging from 122-150kHz
Image: Pexels
They rely on echolocation to navigate, communicate and detect prey
Image: Pexels
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