Vaquita
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[Photo] La vaquita Phocoena sinus es un cet??ceo, al igual que las ballenas y los delfines, perteneciente a la familia de las marsopas (Phocoenidae), las cuales se caracterizan por tener un cuerpo robusto, rostro romo (el hocico no sobresale de la cabeza como en la mayor??a de los delfines) y la corona de los dientes es aplanada, en forma de esp??tula, a diferencia de los dientes c??nicos de los delfines. Est?? clasificada dentro de las categor??as m??s cr??ticas de las especies amenazadas por la Uni??n Internacional para la Conservaci??n de la Naturaleza (IUCN), la Convenci??n Internacional para el Tr??fico de Especies en Peligro de Fauna y Flora Silvestres (CITES, 1997) y la Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM059-SEMARNAT 2001). En 1996 la IUCN consider?? que la vaquita, como especie cr??ticamente amenazada , que puede extinguirse a menos que los esfuerzos de conservaci??n se incrementen sustancialmente. http://www.ine.gob.mx/dgoece/con_eco/vaquita.html

The Vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is a rare species of porpoise. It is endemic to the northern part of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez). Estimates of the number of individuals alive range from 100 [1][2] to 300 [2] making it amongst the most endangered of all marine mammals [1]. The word "vaquita" is Spanish for little cow.

Other names include Cochito, Gulf of California Harbor Porpoise, Gulf of California Porpoise, Gulf Porpoise, Hafenschweinswal, and Marsouin du Golfe de Californie.

Physical description
The Vaquita has a classic porpoise shape???stocky and curved into a concave shape when viewed from the side. It is the smallest of the porpoises and thus amongst the smallest of all cetaceans. Individuals may grow up to 150 cm in length and weigh up to 50 kilograms. They have a dark colouring around the eyes and mouth. The upper side of the body is medium to dark gray. The underside is off-white to light gray but the demarcation between the sides is indistinct. The dorsal fin is in the centre of the back and larger than other porpoise fins.

Conservation
Vaquita have never been hunted directly. Indeed their continued existence was only confirmed by a dedicated survey in 1985. However it is known that the Vaquita population is declining, and that this is due to animals becoming trapped in gillnets intended for capturing another species endemic to the Gulf, the tototaba. CIRVA, the Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita, concluded in 2000 that between 39 and 84 individuals are killed each year by such gillnets. The Vaquita is listed by the IUCN and the Convention on International Trade in the Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in the most critical category at risk of extinction. In order to try to prevent extinction, the Mexican government has created a nature reserve covering the upper part of the Gulf of California and the Colorado River delta. CIRVA is recommending that this reserve be extended southwards to cover the full known area of the Vaquita's range and that trawlers be completely banned from the reserve area. Even if the number of Vaquita killed by fisheries is reduced to zero, concerns remain amongst conservationists. Use of chlorinated pesticides, reduced flow of freshwater from the Colorado River due to irrigation, and depression due to interbreeding (see references) may also have a detrimental effect.

References
Cetacean Specialist Group (1996). Phocoena sinus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is critically endangered
Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises, Carwardine, 1995, ISBN 0-7513-2781-6
Aquarium Passport Book, Aquarium of the Pacific 2005
Preventing the extinction of a small population: Vaquita fishery mortality and mitigation strategies D'Agrosa, Lennert and Vidal. Conservational Biology vol 14. pages 1110-1119
Examining the risk of inbreeding depression in a naturally rare cetacean, the Vaquita, Taylor and Rojas-Bracho, Marine Mammal Science Vol 15. Pages 1004-1028.
National Audubon Society: Guide to Marine Mammals of the World, Reeves et al 2002, ISBN 0-375-41141-0

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