An Amazon river dolphin – now scientists say they have discovered a new species, for the first time in nearly 100 years

First discovery of its type in nearly 100 years

Scientists in Brazil say they have identified a new species of river dolphin, the first to be discovered in nearly 100 years.

River dolphins are among the most endangered mammals in the world.
The new species was found in the Araguaia River Basin in Brazil.

Researchers from the  Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM) and the National Research Institute of the Amazon (INPA) in Brazil and  say the species separated from other Amazonian dolphins more than two million years ago.

"This discovery highlights the immensity of the deficit in our knowledge of Neotrpical biodiversity, as well as vulnerability of  biodiversity to anthropogenic actions in an increasingly threatened landscape," wrote lead author Tomas Hrbek in the journal Plos One .

The research paper added that three of the four existing species of river dolphin are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) red list as under threat.

See the findings in full at Plos One.

Image (C) Benjli/Wikimedia