Ancient giant river dolphin species found in the Peruvian Amazon

Paleontologists discovered a fossilized skull of a newly described species of giant freshwater dolphin in the Peruvian Amazon, which lived around 16 million years ago and is considered the largest-known river dolphin ever found.

Conservation efforts are underway, including the signing of the Global Declaration for River Dolphins by nine countries and successful initiatives in China and Indonesia, highlighting the importance of protecting these critical species that serve as indicators of river ecosystem health. Artistic reconstruction of Pebanista yacuruna in the murky waters of the Peruvian proto-Amazonia. Image by Jamie Bran.

The team was also surprised to find that the ancient creature was not related to the local, living species of Amazon river pink dolphin : Rodolfo Salas-Gismondi , Julia Tejada-Lara , John Flynn & local guide Michel Valles during the 2018 expedition to the Napo river while excavating on a 13-million year old fossiliferous outcrop. Image courtesy of Aldo Benites-Palomino

The researchers say they believe the giant dolphin’s ancestors originally lived in the ocean and ventured into the bountiful freshwater ecosystems of proto-Amazonia, adapting to their new environment. However, as the landscape shifted and new habitats emerged,Paleontologist Aldo Benites-Palomino during 2018 while preparing the Pebanista yacuruna holotype skull at the Natural History Museum of Lima. Credit: Rodolfo Salas-Gismondi.

More than 100 river dolphins, including endangered Amazon river dolphins , were found dead in Lake Tefé in the state of Amazonas. Image courtesy of André Zumak/Mamirauá Institute.However, amid the crisis, conservation efforts are underway. Thanks to rigorous protection measures, the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise in China has seen a

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