Prehistoric Giant: Amazon's Monster Dolphin

28th March, 2024 CHIRANJIT MITRA CHIRANJIT MITRA

[{"selector":"#anim-c60c523e-3006-4e0e-ad97-e609e7b847b1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-20.551074034022644%, 6.802987210392662%) scale(1.423728813559322)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c8a2ef2f-1249-49b8-836c-86a5d8e4594d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4253a04-b217-4726-a019-8d51488b822d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Move over, pink dolphins! Scientists have unearthed a colossal dolphin ancestor that once swam in the Amazon. Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-17757927-e5bd-42c0-9bfa-f1308a687852 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(17.29856490249235%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a36dae05-7a2e-44d9-b224-b235233a7b78","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1135c4fd-bb6d-4963-afb5-207a573060be","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] This extinct species is named Pebanista yacuruna, after a mythical Amazonian water creature.

[{"selector":"#anim-6265e247-95a5-4f74-8801-a5b2279345ce [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.523611840881788%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5df8cb8b-be29-4bca-9fc2-8d2af8922940","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f56b61e7-1dac-4040-bb0d-c681b72a201b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The fossilized skull was found near Peru's Napo River, a tributary of the Amazon.

[{"selector":"#anim-e27c56ea-81de-466b-b603-2c4d800fbea3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-57.59564754168031%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df85e91c-f373-4b33-bc47-21514085773e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b06679f5-5241-4de9-bce0-2211f3ceaddc","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Dating reveals this massive dolphin lived around 16 million years ago.

[{"selector":"#anim-51280641-53da-4a6e-a5c8-8b0c46b7a581 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-26.61939514878605%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2a0ae1ab-a687-461a-80ec-80a9d0784f3f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b898318d-3df3-44bf-8db9-ba10ab2e2d41","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Scientists estimate Pebanista was 10-12 feet long, TWICE the size of a modern river dolphin!

[{"selector":"#anim-8395dfa9-a3d9-4dbe-9a6c-b183d593d9e5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-9.523809281091088%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ccad4a0-db0b-4107-9ae6-d58a52366d1f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0a8f2c8-8800-43a3-ad24-93b8d1a875c2","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Its large size could be an adaptation to hunting larger prey in ancient Amazonian waters.

[{"selector":"#anim-c014370d-a004-4911-a06b-e5be123f8300 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-18.791904937302437%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b4e0182e-969d-4db0-9765-b8d24e8565c6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-de92d79e-5bd8-4a9b-ac85-01bef1be894e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] This discovery rewrites our understanding of how freshwater dolphins evolved. Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-57d4aec4-9c93-4fa7-b8ba-e87374db937e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b2ae06a9-4a20-4fde-bdf6-c1139d63851f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-392cade3-520e-4683-a927-78f6d703bbc2","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Could more giant creatures be lurking in the Amazon's depths, waiting to be discovered? Learn more