Peruvian scientists have unveiled the fossil of a 12-million-year-old porpoise, a dolphin-like species that once lived along the Pacific coast.
The specimen, measuring 11.5 feet in length, was discovered in July by biologist Mario Urbina in the Ocucaje Desert, about 350 kilometers south of Lima. It was formally presented at the Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute in Lima, where Urbina described it as a rare and valuable find.
Fellow biologist Mario Gamarra said the fossil could provide important insights into the evolution of ancient marine life.
The Ocucaje Desert is considered one of Peru’s richest fossil sites, previously yielding remains of four-legged whales, prehistoric dolphins, sharks, and other creatures dating back to the Miocene epoch.
