va·qui·ta
| \ vä-ˈkē-tə
\
\
plural vaquitas
Definition of vaquita
: a small, highly endangered porpoise (Phocoena sinus) of the Gulf of California having a dark ring around the eyes and reaching only four to five feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) in length
The Mexican government is making a final effort to save the vaquita, a tiny porpoise that has been driven to the edge of extinction as a result of illegal fishing for another endangered species that is served as a delicacy in China.— Elisabeth Malkin
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“Vaquita.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vaquita. Accessed 15 Jun. 2021.
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The first known use of vaquita was in 1961
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