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Scientists in Brazil discover new river dolphin species

This undated 2014 photo released by the Federal University of Amazonas shows an Inia araguaiaensis dolphin in the Araguaia River in Amazonas state, Brazil. Scientists say it is the first new river dolphin species discovered in nearly 100 years inhabiting the Araguaia River in Brazil's vast Amazon rainforest. The discovery was announced in January 2014 in a study by biologist Tomas Hrbek from the Federal University of Amazonas. Hrbek said it "it was an unexpected discovery that shows just how incipient our knowledge is of the region's biodiversity." (AP Photo/Nicole Dutra, Federal University of Amazonas)

SAO PAULO - Scientists say they have discovered the first new river dolphin species in nearly 100 years inhabiting the Araguaia River in Brazil's vast Amazon rainforest.

The discovery of the "Inia araguaiaensis" was officially announced earlier this week in a study posted on line by the Plos One scientific journal.

Biologist Tomas Hrbek works at the Federal University of Amazonas in the city of Manaus and is the lead author of the study. He says the new species is the third found in the Amazon region.

Hrbek said it "it was an unexpected discovery that shows just how incipient our knowledge is of the region's biodiversity."

News from © The Associated Press, 2014
The Associated Press

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