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.
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly used in scientific or formal contexts. The word is usually written in kana.
Hiragana spelling is also used, though katakana is more common for species names.
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'.