Peruvian paleontologists have unveiled the fossilized skeleton of a dolphin-like marine creature believed to be between 8 and 12 million years old. The discovery was made in July in the Ocucaje Desert, a region south of Lima that once formed part of the Pacific Ocean.
Mario Urbina, one of the lead researchers, described the site as a “great hotel,” noting that coastal mountains once shielded the area from strong currents, creating a calm environment where marine animals could reproduce. Scientists estimate the region remained a sea for around 45 million years.
According to Peru’s state Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute (INGEMET), the find offers new insights into how Peru’s coastline and marine geography have evolved over millennia.
Peru’s deserts are considered rich fossil grounds for ancient marine life. Earlier this year, researchers unearthed a nine-million-year-old fossil of a great white shark relative in the same area. In April 2024, experts also revealed the fossilized skull of the largest known river dolphin, which lived about 16 million years ago in what is now the Amazon region.
