A complete petrified skeleton of an ancestor of modern porpoises dating back more than 10 million years is unveiled at the Geological, Mining, and Metallurgical Institute (INGEMMET) in Lima on September 17, 2025 Ernesto BENAVIDES

Peruvian paleontologists on Wednesday unveiled the 12-million-year-old fossil of a prehistoric porpoise found near the country's Pacific coast.

The fossil, which measures 3.5 meters (about 11.5 feet) long, was found in July by Peruvian paleontologist Mario Urbina in the Ocucaje desert, around 350 kilometers (217 miles) south of the capital Lima.

Presenting his find at the Geological, Mining, and Metallurgical Institute in Lima, Urbina said it was a rare specimen of a porpoise from the Pisco geological formation, noted for its well-preserved marine fossils.

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