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Vaquita Research Paper

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When you hear the name vaquita, you probably think about the word “cow” or “small cow” in Spanish, but the truth is there is an animal out there named that in English, and their numbers have been dropping treacherously low. Also known as the Gulf of California Harbor Porpoise, or by it’s Latin name, Phocoena sinus, as well as cochito or desert porpoise, this cetaceans resembles a dolphin, having the same sleek, grey dorsal surface, it’s only distinguishable feature being it’s flat or rounded face and dark areas around the eyes and mouth, making it look like it has a short beak. Newborn offspring have a much darker coloration. Vaquitas are relatively small in size, adults being 5 feet long, which is about the high of the average teenager in the United States, while offspring are about the size of a large human baby or a small toddler. An adult vaquita weights up to 120 pounds. …show more content…

Since not very much is known about vaquita’s reproductive behaviors, it is believed that vaquitas become sexually mature as early as 3 years of age, but most commonly at 6. Females give birth to one calf approximately every two years. Mothers nurse their offspring for 6 to 8 months, and then left when they are strong enough. Vaquitas are carnivorous, feeding on different types of lagoon fish and other marine animals. They use echolocation to track down their dinner, which includes species from demersal (flatfish, manta rays and flounders) and benthic (crustaceans) zones, teleosts (croakers, sea trout and grunts) as well as squid and other smaller fish. Vaquitas are native to the northern Gulf of California, staying around the gulf’s shallow areas, though swimming away when a boat approaches. They are the only porpoise found in such warm temperatures

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