The Suprise Discovery Of The World's Largest Prehistoric Dolphin Reveals Unlikely Link

A surprise fossil found in the Amazon rainforest connects to both ancient saltwater dolphins and contemporary freshwater kin.

By Paul Smaglik
Mar 22, 2024 7:00 PM
Giant freshwater dolphin
(Credit: Jaime Bran) Artistic reconstruction of Pebanista yacuruna in the murky waters of the Peruvian proto-Amazonia. University of Zurich

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

The largest river dolphin fossil has been found — thousands of miles from its nearest living relative, reports an international group of paleontologists in Science Advances.

The team, led by University of Zurich (UZH) paleontologists, located the fossil in the Peruvian Amazon. It measures nearly 12 feet long and dates back about 16 million years. The new freshwater species, named Pebanista yacuruna, is linked to the rare contemporary South Asian river dolphin Platanista and the saltwater relatives from which it likely evolved.

The find was “a big surprise,” says Aldo Benites-Palomino, a UZH paleontologist and an author of the paper. “Fossils of dolphins that lived in river environments are extremely rare worldwide,” Benites-Palomino says. “I do not think anyone in the crew was expecting to find a dolphin on that trip. Fish, yes, crocodiles, yes, but dolphins, no.”

The surprises continued as they examined the fossil. “This is possibly the largest river dolphin ever recorded,” Benites-Palomino says. Also, one would expect the fossil to be related to more contemporary dolphins from the area. But it wasn’t. “Once studied, it became evident that it belongs to the same group of the Ganges river dolphins (Platanistidae), not the Amazon river dolphins (Iniidae).”

0 free articles left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

0 free articlesSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Stay Curious

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and unlock one more article for free.

 

View our Privacy Policy


Want more?
Keep reading for as low as $1.99!


Log In or Register

Already a subscriber?
Find my Subscription

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2024 Kalmbach Media Co.