{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "vaquita",
  "name": "Vaquita",
  "scientificName": "Phocoena sinus",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "The vaquita is the world's smallest and most endangered porpoise, found only in the northern Gulf of California in Mexico. It is recognized by dark rings around the eyes and lips. With only around ten individuals left, it is the most endangered marine mammal on Earth, threatened mainly by illegal gillnets.",
  "conservationStatus": "Critically Endangered",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Artiodactyla",
    "family": "Phocoenidae",
    "genus": "Phocoena"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 50,
    "lengthM": 1.5,
    "topSpeedKmh": 35,
    "lifespanYears": 20
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Phocoena sinus"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore (fish and squid)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Shallow northern Gulf of California"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "Around 20 years"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "30–55 kg (66–121 lb)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "A fast, shy swimmer"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Critically Endangered (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Only the shallow northern end of the Gulf of California in Mexico, the smallest range of any marine mammal.",
    "continents": [
      "North America",
      "Oceans"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Phocoena sinus.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Phocoena%20sinus&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Phocoena sinus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Phocoena_sinus/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Vaquita.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaquita"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/vaquita/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/vaquita/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}