The vaquita is a critically endangered species of porpoise that is native to the northern part of the Gulf of California. It is considered to be the world's most rare marine mammal, with a population that has declined significantly in recent years. The vaquita is primarily threatened by illegal fishing activities, specifically the use of gillnets to catch another endangered species, the totoaba fish. Efforts are being made to protect and conserve the remaining vaquita population, including the implementation of fishing bans and the use of alternative fishing methods to reduce bycatch.

The vaquita has a grayish-blue or light gray back with a lighter underside, and often has darker markings around its eyes and mouth.

In terms of size, vaquitas typically reach lengths of about 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) and weigh around 55 to 120 pounds (25 to 55 kilograms).

Their skin is smooth and lacks fur, as they are marine. Their skin is generally a smooth, light gray color.

Vaquitas have pectoral fins, dorsal fins, and flukes, but they lack true external ear flaps, which is common among porpoises and dolphins. They are well-adapted for swimming and diving their aquatic habitat.

Vaquitas, like other marine mammals, rely on their sense of hearing for communication, navigation, and locating prey. They have well-developed auditory systems and echolocation abilities to navigate and find food their murky underwater environment.

For oxygen, vaquitas, being marine mammals, rely on surfacing to breathe air. They utilize a blowhole located on the tops of their heads to take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide.

In terms of dimorphism, male and female vaquitas generally do not have significant differences in appearance, as both sexes typically have similar physical characteristics. However, males are typically slightly larger than females, but this difference is not easily distinguishable without detailed measurements. Additionally, males typically have a larger, broader dorsal fin compared to females, but this difference may not be visually obvious without direct comparison.

The vaquita has several features that make it well adapted to survive in its habitat:

1. Echolocation: Vaquitas have well-developed auditory systems and echolocation abilities, which allow them to navigate and locate prey in the murky waters of the northern Gulf of California. This adaptation helps the vaquita by enabling them to effectively find and capture prey, even in low visibility conditions.

2. Hydrodynamic Body: Its streamlined body shape and specific fin and fluke adaptations make the vaquita well-equipped for swimming and diving in its aquatic environment. This adaptation helps the vaquita by reducing drag and energy expenditure during movement, allowing for efficient hunting and evasion of predators.

3. Blowhole for Breathing: The vaquita's blowhole is crucial for surfacing and breathing air. This adaptation enables the vaquita to quickly breathe without needing to fully surface, which is especially beneficial when needing to stay submerged while staying aware of its surroundings and potential threats.

4. Low Reproductive Rate: While not a traditional physical adaptation, the vaquita's low reproductive rate is an ecological adaptation to its habitat. Their slow reproduction ensures that the population does not grow beyond the sustainable capacity of their environment, reducing competition for resources.

5. Sensory Perception: Vaquitas have highly developed sensory perception, particularly in terms of hearing and echolocation. This adaptation helps them to effectively navigate, communicate, and locate prey in their complex acoustic environment, enhancing their ability to survive and thrive in their habitat.

Overall, these adaptations collectively aid the vaquita in maximizing its chances of survival in its specific marine habitat by providing it with the necessary tools to locate food, avoid predators, and successfully navigate its environment.

The vaquita interacts with other living things primarily as a predator, as it preys on fish and squid found in its habitat. Vaquitas are not known to be aggressive predators and are not at the top of the food chain, as they themselves are vulnerable to predation by larger marine animals such as sharks and orcas.

In terms of competition, vaquitas may compete with other marine predators for food resources, particularly with species that share a similar diet or hunting grounds. However, their population size along with their specific habitat and dietary preferences likely limit direct competition with other organisms for food and shelter.

Overall, the interactions of vaquitas with other living things are largely centered around their role as a prey species and their coexistence within the complex marine ecosystem of the northern Gulf of California.

The vaquita primarily preys on fish and squid in its habitat. It can also be preyed upon by larger marine animals such as sharks and orcas. It may compete with other marine predators for food resources, but its population size and habitat likely limit direct competition.

• The vaquita's life cycle begins with mating between male and female vaquitas.
• After a gestation period of about 10-11 months, female vaquitas give birth to a single calf.
• The calf is nursed by its mother and gradually learns essential survival skills, including hunting and navigating its environment.
• As the calf matures, it becomes independent and continues the life cycle, contributing to the population's reproduction.