Ancient Dolphin Species Discovered in Swiss Alps in Landlocked Switzerland

Unknown dolphin species that lived millions of years ago were found by scientists in an area of what is now the landlocked mountainous country of Switzerland.

In a new study, experts have found two new prehistoric dolphin species in the Swiss Alps, which were never seen before.

The discovery added to the mystery, yet growing evidence that the Swiss Alps, the mountainous Alpine region of Switzerland, was once an ocean.

Previous research also unearthed fossils of prehistoric marine animals in the said area.

Regardless, the paleontological evidence suggested a different geographical landscape back then, just 45 million years after the dinosaurs and most life forms on Earth were destroyed by the Chicxulub asteroid impact.

The novel discovery after the mass extinction event, confirmed the theory life in the oceans survived.

Prehistoric Dolphin Species

Paleontologists from the University of Zurich (UZH) in Switzerland reportedly claimed they have used the fossilized fragments of ear bones, teeth, and vertebrae of the discovered ancient dolphin species in the Swiss Alps.

The team postulated they relate to dolphins and sperm whales living in current times.

According to the UZH media page, the Swiss Plateau region or "Mittelland" was once an ocean where dolphins swam around 20 million years ago.

The researchers from the UZH's Paleontological Institute examined 300 fossils of dolphins and whales dating back to the said period.

At the excavation site, the UZH paleontologists discovered the fragments in the so-called Upper Marine Molasse, which showed signs of strong ancient currents, which were responsible for dragging the animal skeletons throughout the ocean flood and scattering the bones.

The assessment somehow confirms the notion that sea levels once flooded the low-lying areas of Europe as the climate continued to warm naturally.

This made Switzerland reportedly part of an island landscape populated with ancient dolphins, fish, sharks, mussels, and sea urchins on the seabed.

Giant Marine Reptiles

In a different era, the Swiss Alps was also a site housing the fossils of giant extinct marine reptiles based on a separate study published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology on April 27.

The fossils belong to massive ichthyosaurs during the end of the Triassic Period at around 205 million years ago.

The whale-size ichthyosaurs can reach an estimated weight of 80 tons and length of 65 feet (20 meters), surpassing the size of today's modern sperm whales, according to CNN.

Dubbed as "fish lizards," the prehistoric giants first appeared around 250 million years ago after the extinction event of the Permian period.

After thriving for 50 million years, the ichthyosaurs reportedly went extinct 200 million years ago, leaving only smaller, dolphin-like creatures to live until 90 million years ago.

The said period was a time when dinosaurs were starting to dominate the land.

What makes the discovery unique is that the marine animals' fossils were found atop three mountains in the Swiss Alps with a height of 8,990 feet (2,740 meters) above sea level.

These findings also confirmed that Switzerland and its enclosed mountainous regions were a vibrant marine ecosystem longer than previously thought.