'Sea Cow' fossils found in the Philippines.

Italian scientists have found bones of species of sea cows (sirenian) that lived 20 million years ago in the Philippines.

"limestone rocks above the water in the underground river in Palawan island, Philippines, shows some backbone and ribs of the animal," said Leonardo Piccini, geologists from the University of Florence.

The discovery of fossils of species of sea cow was announced in the Philippines. Piccini said that quite rare to find fossils from the Miocene era, approximately 20 million years ago. Similarly, as quoted by Red Orbit, on Wednesday (08/06/2011).

"This isis the first fossils of ancient marine species found in cattle in the region .So it’s important ,to reconstruct the habitat of the animal in question in the Miocene era ,"he explained .

While the AFP on Wednesday (08/06/2011), reported that the fossils of sea cow types are usually found in India, also in Madagascar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Java.

"Specimens found on the island Plawan represents the first discovery of fossil sea cow in the Philippines," said Piccini.

Scientists Fedrico Panti and Paolo Forti, a member of Palawan expedition, states that the fossils found came from one of two species of sea cow is extinct. "It has a length of six feet," they said.

Currently there are two types of sea cows are still alive, they live in the area of Indo-Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Currently, the Philippine government to protect the fossil discovery site, which has become the latest tourist destination of the tourists.