The Geological, Mining, and Metallurgical Institute (INGEMMET) presented the fossil of an 8- to 10-million-year-old cetacean, an ancestor of the porpoise, on Wednesday as part of the National Geology Day commemorations in Lima.
Footage shows staff unveiling the skeleton of the dolphin-like cetacean Lomacetus sp., discovered in the Ocucaje Desert of Peru's Ica province. The find included the skull, vertebrae, ribs, and both humeri.
"In this case, it is the almost complete skeleton of a species of dolphin, as we colloquially call it, but the name we use for this group of cetaceans is porpoise. This porpoise, 'Lomacetus SP'... is approximately 8 million years old," explained Manuel Laime Molina, from the Palaeontology Department at the Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute.
"I must highlight that this is one of the most complete skeletons of a fossil porpoise found in South America, and it helps us to learn more about this species. In Peru, it is represented by only one species, the finless porpoise, which is the only species currently living in Peruvian waters. Worldwide, there are about seven species," Molina added.
The palaeontologist noted that the fossil's state of preservation is moderate and that it has altered over time due to erosion, changing from a blackish to a whitish appearance.
"And that is the fate of all fossils, which over time deteriorate on the surface if they are not collected," he said.
The discovery provides new insights into the Late Miocene environment: a shallow but biodiverse sea inhabited by porpoises, ancestral dolphins, and primitive whales, according to local media reports.
Follow us on:
WhatsApp cutt.ly/WhatsAppCFM
https://twitter.com/capitalfmkenya/
https://www.facebook.com/capitalfmkenya
https://www.instagram.com/capitalfmkenya
Subscribe to Capital FM News for More: https://goo.gl/um4AGk
98.4 Capital FM
93.0 Western Kenya
98.5 Nakuru and Nyeri
104.5 Malindi
102.7 Garissa
103.9 Meru
106.5 Kitui
104.9 Voi
#CapitalFmKenya
