Ancient (River) Dolphin Fossils Was Found in Equador [Recent Science Findings]

fajarli (52)in #science • 7 years ago

Dolphins are one type of fish that live in the vast ocean. Dolphins are also referred to as intelligent marine mammals. Dolphins have a natural system that complements the body. Today many technologies are inspired from dolphins. One example is the skin of a dolphin that is able to minimize friction with water, so that dolphins can swim more quickly. Professional swimmer was looking for a leather-like swimsuit to be able to swim faster.

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Another technology that is inspired by dolphins is his body system. Dolphins have a system used to communicate and receive stimuli called sonar systems, this system can avoid objects in front of it, so that the dolphins can avoid the impact. This technology was then applied in the manufacture of submarine radar. Dolphins are mammals because the dolphins are mammals. And now there are dozens of species of dolphins in the ocean.

However, have you ever imagined how dolphins form in the past? The prehistoric dolphins. Perhaps the discovery of a natural museum researcher in Osaka, Japan can describe it.

The researchers found ancient dolphin fossils originating from the Oligocene period (34-23 million years ago). Uniquely, this fossil is a new species that has never been found before. The findings are published in the journal PLOS ONE, Wednesday (20/12/2017). Researchers explain that this fossil was found in the Ecuador region. Previously, marine fossils came from long climates such as South Carolina, offshore Oregon, Hokkaido, and New Zealand. While this time is a new thing.

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This fossil is named Urkudelphis chawpipacha. This dolphin fossil has a high bone in the front and center of its face, just above the eye socket. This also makes this species separate from other oligocene period dolphins. While other fossils have shorter and wider front bones at the top of the head and back of the jaw. The researchers conducted a phylogenetic analysis to prove that this new species might be the ancestral ancestor of Platanistoidea (dolphin rivers).

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