Arktocara ("Platanista gangetica") which inhabits the tropics, making it its closest living relative. Allodelphinidae also included the genera "Allodelphis", "Goedertius", "Ninjadelphis", and "Zarhinocetus". Its discovery further reinforces the theory that the Platanistoidea river dolphins originated in the oceans. Of the characteristics it shared with other platanistoids was a cylindrical projection of the periotic bone in the ear, deeply grooved rostral sutures on the beak, the widening of the cranium, a depression on the roof of the orbit in the eye socket, a smaller exposed palatine bone in the roof of the mouth, an elongated and convex spine in the tympanic bulla
Endangered Species Act Amendments of 1978 Endangered Species Act Amendments of 1978 The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was first passed in 1973 and forms the basis of biodiversity and endangered species protection in the United States. The original purpose of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 was to prevent species endangerment and extinction due to the human impact on natural ecosystems. The three most powerful sections of the ESA are Sections 4,7 and 9. Section 4 allows the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce to list species as threatened or endangered based on best available data. Section 7 requires federal agencies to consult with Fish and Wildlife