85 million-year-old fossil found in Peru
Baku, January 22 (AZERTAC). Paleontologists say they have discovered an 85-million-year-old fossil of a previously unknown squid species from the Cretaceous era in northeastern Peru.
"It is a new species of squid, totally new, that has not been seen in other parts of the world," paleontologist Klaus Honninger said.
Dr Honninger, director of the Meyer-Honninger Paleontology Museum in the northern city of Chiclayo, said the fossil was a large cephalopod of the extinct Baculite species, known for their long straight shells.
The specimen is 32 centimetres long and five centimetres in diameter, and has unusual diagonal rings in the lower section.
The rare fossil was discovered on January 6 in the Maranon River basin at a site some 4100 metres above the sea level.
Dr Honninger did not give a specific location, only saying it was found in Peru`s northeastern Amazonas region.
"At the site, a sort of saltwater lake had formed that allowed these creatures to evolve independently," Dr Honninger said.
The Cretaceous era was a geological period lasting from about 144 million to 65 million years ago. It was the last period of the age of dinosaurs.
Other news in this section
