The largest freshwater odontocete: A South Asian river dolphin relative from the proto-Amazonia.

Several dolphin lineages have independently invaded freshwater systems. Among these, the evolution of the South Asian river dolphin and its relatives (Platanistidae) remains virtually unknown as fossils are scarce. Here, we describe gen.

Correction to: Late Neogene evolution of the Peruvian margin and its ecosystems: a synthesis from the Sacaco record.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s00531-021-02003-1.].

Middle Eocene rodents from Peruvian Amazonia reveal the pattern and timing of caviomorph origins and biogeography.

The long-term isolation of South America during most of the Cenozoic produced a highly peculiar terrestrial vertebrate biota, with a wide array of mammal groups, among which caviomorph rodents and platyrrhine primates are Mid-Cenozoic immigrants. In the absence of indisputable pre-Oligocene South American rodents or primates, the mode, timing and biogeography of these extraordinary dispersals remained debated. Here, we describe South America's oldest known rodents, based on a new diverse caviomorph assemblage from the late Middle Eocene (approx.

Fossil evidence for evolution of the shape and color of penguin feathers.

Penguin feathers are highly modified in form and function, but there have been no fossils to inform their evolution. A giant penguin with feathers was recovered from the late Eocene (~36 million years ago) of Peru. The fossil reveals that key feathering features, including undifferentiated primary wing feathers and broad body contour feather shafts, evolved early in the penguin lineage.