vaquita; cochito; gulf porpoise
A critically endangered porpoise species endemic to the northern Gulf of California. Scientific name: Phocoena sinus.
The vaquita is one of the most critically endangered marine mammals in the world.
The Mexican government established a protected area for the vaquita.
Refers to the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), a more common species. コガシラネズミイルカ is a smaller, rarer relative.
Katakana spelling is standard for this animal name.
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly used in scientific or formal contexts. The word is usually written in kana.
The name コガシラネズミイルカ literally means 'small-headed mouse dolphin', from 小 (small) + 頭 (head) + 鼠海豚 (porpoise, lit. 'mouse dolphin'). The English name 'vaquita' is Spanish for 'little cow'.