vaquita

From Spanish vaquita (“little cow”), diminutive of vaca (“cow”).

vaquita (plural vaquitas)

1. A small and critically endangered porpoise, Phocoena sinus, endemic to the northern part of the Gulf of California, Mexico.
   • 2015 November 5, Whale of a deal, New Scientist, Issue 3098, page 6,

     THE world’s smallest porpoise may have a fighting chance. The vaquita might be saved from extinction by an agreement at a meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in Portoroz, Slovenia, last week.

     Unique to the Gulf of California, the vaquita has seen its numbers collapse to 59 in 2015.

• cochito
• desert porpoise
• Gulf of California harbor porpoise
• Gulf of California porpoise
• gulf porpoise
• vaquita marina
• vaquita porpoise

• aquavit

vaquita f (plural vaquitas)

1. diminutive of vaca, little cow

• vaquilla