Giant river dolphin fossils discovered in Peru

Scientists have discovered the fossilized skull of an extinct giant river dolphin in Peru .

Scientists have discovered the fossilized skull of an extinct giant river dolphin – a species believed to have left the ocean and settled in the Amazon some 16 million years ago – in Peru. .

Illustration of river dolphin Pebanista yacuruna. (Photo: J Bran).

With the scientific name Pebanista yacuruna , this river dolphin belongs to the family Platanistoidea and was commonly found in the oceans 24 million to 16 million years ago. The discovery of the fossil - believed to belong to the largest river dolphin ever found - was published in the journal Science Advances on March 20.

Guardian news agency quoted Mr. Aldo Benites-Palomino, the main author of the study, that he discovered this fossil in Peru in 2018 when he was still a university student and this research paper was delayed due to the pandemic. Covid-19. At the time, he said he discovered a piece of jawbone while walking with a colleague.

As soon as he saw the fossil, he recognized the tooth socket mark and knew that this was a dolphin. He explained: 'Then we realized it was not related to the Amazon River pink dolphin. We have found an animal, a giant whose closest living relative is 10,000km away in Southeast Asia.'

Mr. Benites-Palomino also said that this fossil is notable for its size and the fact that it does not have any connection to the river dolphins swimming in the waters where it once lived. .

Mr. Marcelo R Sánchez-Villagra, director of the paleontology department of the University of Zurich, also agreed with Mr. Benites-Palomino's statement, saying: ' After 2 decades of work in South America, we have found There are several giant dolphin fossils in the area, but this is the first of its kind.

Commenting on the significance of the research, Mr. Benites-Palomino said that the current surviving river dolphins are 'remnants of once very diverse groups of marine dolphins' and are believed to have left the ocean to survive. Find new food sources in freshwater rivers.

This study highlights the potential risks to all remaining river dolphins in the world – species that face threats of extinction in the next 20 to 40 years. Urban development, pollution and mining are the main causes that affect the habitat of river dolphins and can push them to the brink of extinction.