Benites-Palomino A., Aguirre-Fernandez G., Baby Patrice, Ochoa D., Altamirano A., Flynn J. J., Sánchez-Villagra M. R., Tejada J. V., de Muizon C., Salas-Gismondi R. (2024). The largest freshwater odontocete : a South Asian river dolphin relative from the proto-Amazonia. Science Advances, 10 (12), p. eadk6320 [9 p.]. ISSN 2375-2548.
Titre du document
The largest freshwater odontocete : a South Asian river dolphin relative from the proto-Amazonia
Année de publication
2024
Auteurs
Benites-Palomino A., Aguirre-Fernandez G., Baby Patrice, Ochoa D., Altamirano A., Flynn J. J., Sánchez-Villagra M. R., Tejada J. V., de Muizon C., Salas-Gismondi R.
Source
Science Advances, 2024,
10 (12), p. eadk6320 [9 p.] ISSN 2375-2548
Several dolphin lineages have independently invaded freshwater systems. Among these, the evolution of the South Asian river dolphin Platanista and its relatives (Platanistidae) remains virtually unknown as fossils are scarce. Here, we describe Pebanista yacuruna gen. et sp. nov., a dolphin from the Miocene proto-Amazonia of Peru, recovered in phylogenies as the closest relative of Platanista. Morphological characters such as an elongated rostrum and large supraorbital crests, along with ecological interpretations, indicate that this odontocete was fully adapted to fresh waters. Pebanista constitutes the largest freshwater odontocete known, with an estimated body length of 3 meters, highlighting the ample resource availability and biotic diversity in the region, during the Early to Middle Miocene. The finding of Pebanista in proto-Amazonian layers attests that platanistids ventured into freshwater ecosystems not only in South Asia but also in South America, before the modern Amazon River dolphin, during a crucial moment for the Amazonian evolution.
Plan de classement
Limnologie biologique / Océanographie biologique [034]
;
Géologie et formations superficielles [064]
Description Géographique
PEROU
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010090627]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010090627
