Scientists Discover Partial Skeleton of Ancient Whale and Believe It May Be the Largest Ever
A discovery off the coast of Peru brings into question whether or not Blue Whales are the heaviest animal to ever exist. Blue Whales can weigh up to 30 elephants, but the partial skeleton discovery suggests this ancient whale weighed three times that of a Blue Whale.
The bones were uncovered 13 years ago by Peruvian Palentiologiest Mario Urbina. A team spent years carefully digging out the bones in the Ica desert, a region in Peru that was once underwater. Take a look at the report from ITV News.
Wow! This is absolutely incredible. We love that scientists and researchers are still discovering more about our world. It's truly fascinating! The species has been named Perucetus Colossus, or the colossal whale from Peru, and the fossils found date back 39 million years ago. Since the discovery, researchers have been using 3D scanners to study the surface of the bones. They've also drilled into the bones to have a peek inside.
Researchers calculated this giant whale to have weighed from 94 to 375 tons with its body stretching to around 66 feet long. Blue Whales can grow longer, so although the Perucetus Colossus is believed to be the heaviest, it was not likely the longest. Either way, what an incredible discovery!
Now, what could such a massive animal eat to maintain its weight? It’s hard for experts to say without seeing the skull, although it’s possible this giant scavenged for food along the seafloor or they ate krill and tiny sea creatures. All we know is that we can't wait to learn more about this giant, ancient sea animal.
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