Ancient Sea Cow Fossil Found in Philippines

A team of Italian researchers found the bones of a sea cow, a species that lived about 20 million years ago. The bones were found in a cave in the Philippines.

Some of the ribs and the backbone of aquatic mammals that are found in February and March in limestone rocks above the waters of an underground river in Palawan island.

"The fossil is in stone, in the cave. We could not get rid of the stone and do not want to answer it, "said Leonardo Piccini, geologists from the University of Florence, as quoted from the Independent, June 14, 2011.

Piccini said, he and his team prefer to wait until a technology that allows the study of fossils, without lifting it from the stone.

As revealed his findings in a symposium, where the first time the findings were published, Piccini said the findings came from around rare Miocene era, which lasted about 20 million years ago.

"This framework is the framework of the first animal of this species found in the region," said Piccini. "For that, it's important for us to reconstruct the habitat and the spread of this animal in the Miocene era," he said.

According to Federico and Paolo Forti orphanage who is also a member of the research team, from the initial comparison of the fossil specimens, fossil indicated imi is one of the two species sirenian. For information, sirenian, also known as sea cows, ie, plant-eating animals that are extinct.

It is estimated that, when alive, this animal has a size of about 180 centimeters long. Currently, there are two species of sea cows who are still living the dugong that live in the Indo-Pacific, and the mermaid, who lives in the Atlantic region. The researchers said the fossil animals like this has ever been found in India, Madagascar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and in Java, Indonesia.

"Species that are found on the island of Palawan is the first in the Philippines and is found in most eastern region," said Piccini.

To that end, the researchers urge the government to protect the area of ​​Puerto Princesa, the underground river that is heavily promoted as a tourist destination.