Discovery of the Largest Ancient River Dolphin in the Amazon

Scientists unveil a 16-million-year-old fossil of Pebanista yacuruna, the largest known river dolphin species, found in Peru's Amazon region.

The newly discovered species, Pebanista yacuruna, measures between 3 to 3.5 meters in length, making it the largest known species of river dolphin.
Pebanista yacuruna's closest living relatives are the South Asian river dolphins, despite the geographical distance.
The species thrived in the Peruvian Amazon 16 million years ago, a time when the region was covered by a vast system of lakes and swamps.
Changes in the Amazonian landscape around 10 million years ago, leading to the modern Amazon River, are believed to have driven Pebanista yacuruna to extinction.
The discovery provides new insights into the evolutionary history of freshwater dolphins and highlights the rich biodiversity of the ancient Amazon.