Wiktionary
n. A small porpoise, ''Phocoena sinus'', found in Mexico's Gulf of California
WordNet
n. a short porpoise that lives in the Gulf of California; an endangered species [syn: Phocaena sinus]
Wikipedia
The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is a rare species of porpoise endemic to the northern part of the Gulf of California. Since the baiji (Lipotes vexillifer) is believed to have gone extinct by 2006, the vaquita has taken on the title of the most endangered cetacean in the world. It is listed as critically endangered because the estimated number of individuals dropped below 100 in 2014, putting it in imminent danger of extinction. That number was updated to approximately 60 in May 2016, leading to the conclusion that the species is headed for extinction within 5 years unless further conservation efforts are undertaken.
The word vaquita is Spanish for "little cow". Other names include cochito, desert porpoise, vaquita porpoise, Gulf of California harbor porpoise, Gulf of California porpoise, and gulf porpoise.
Usage examples of "vaquita".
There was a pair of spotted dolphins, with their beautiful white-on-black patterns, and one each of the rarer species, the small franciscana dolphin with its long snout, a round-nosed black vaquita and a humpback dolphin, looking just as though they were a trio of mer-children at play.