In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have unveiled a 16-million-year-old fossil skull of a river dolphin unearthed in Peru's ancient Amazon waters. This remarkable find belongs to Pebanista yacuruna, the largest dolphin known to have inhabited South America's rivers, measuring an impressive 3 to 3.5 meters in length.
Paleontologist Rodolfo Salas highlighted that Pebanista yacuruna shares a close evolutionary link with the South Asian river dolphin found in India's Ganges River, although the Peruvian species was significantly larger than its modern-day relatives. Named after the Yacuruna, a mythological Peruvian being of the deep waters, this fossil not only provides insight into the biodiversity of ancient Amazonian ecosystems but also bridges a fascinating connection between continents and species.
This discovery offers valuable data for understanding the evolution of river dolphins and the historical dynamics of freshwater habitats in South America. As researchers continue to explore Peru's rich paleontological landscape, findings like Pebanista yacuruna illuminate the complex tapestry of life that once thrived in these now vibrant ecosystems.
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Fossil skull of 16-million-year-old river dolphin found in Peru
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