Massive extinct whale ‘may be heaviest animal that ever lived’
1 year, 5 months ago

Massive extinct whale ‘may be heaviest animal that ever lived’

The Hindu  

There could be a new contender for heaviest animal to ever live. Researchers described the species — named Perucetus colossus, or “the colossal whale from Peru” — in the journal Nature on Wednesday. The massive fossils, which are 39 million years old, “are unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” said study author Alberto Collareta, a palaeontologist at Italy's University of Pisa. They used the huge — but incomplete — skeleton to estimate the whale's size and weight, using modern marine mammals for comparison, said study author Eli Amson, a paleontologist at the State Museum of Natural History in Stuttgart, Germany. This means the newly discovered whale was "possibly the heaviest animal ever,” Mr. Collareta said, but “it was most likely not the longest animal ever.” It weighs more in part because its bones are much denser and heavier than a blue whale’s, Mr. Amson explained.

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History of this topic

Carcass of endangered fin whale washes up near Alaska’s largest city
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Carcass of endangered fin whale washes up near Alaska’s largest city

Associated Press  

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An endangered fin whale that washed up near a coastal trail in Alaska’s largest city has attracted curious onlookers while biologists seek answers as to what caused the animal’s death. Fin whales are the second-largest whale species, according to NOAA Fisheries, and fully grown can reach up to 85 feet long and weigh between 40 tons and …

19-million-year-old fossil jaw bone hints the biggest whales first evolved somewhere unexpected
1 year ago

19-million-year-old fossil jaw bone hints the biggest whales first evolved somewhere unexpected

The Hindu  

Baleen whales are the titans of the ocean, the largest animals to have ever lived. The ‘missing years’ of whale evolution Various groups of toothed whales terrorised the ocean for millions of years, including some that were the ancestors of the toothless baleen whales. Together with other fossils from Peru in South America, this suggests larger baleen whales may have …

Could this massive whale from 40 million years ago have been the world's heaviest animal?
1 year, 5 months ago

Could this massive whale from 40 million years ago have been the world's heaviest animal?

ABC  

Move over, blue whale, there is a new contender for the heaviest animal in Earth's history. Key points: The Perucetus colossus lived about 38-40 million years ago during the Eocene epoch It was about 20 metres long and weighed up to 340 tonnes The biggest-known blue whale weighed around 190 tonnes Scientists have described fossils of an early whale unearthed …

Ancient whale in the Peruvian desert likely to be heaviest animal ever
1 year, 5 months ago

Ancient whale in the Peruvian desert likely to be heaviest animal ever

Hindustan Times  

There could be a new contender for heaviest animal to ever live. “It’s just exciting to see such a giant animal that’s so different from anything we know," said Hans Thewissen, a paleontologist at Northeast Ohio Medical University who had no role in the research. The massive fossils, which are 39 million years old, “are unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” …

The heaviest animal ever may be this ancient whale found in the Peruvian desert
1 year, 5 months ago

The heaviest animal ever may be this ancient whale found in the Peruvian desert

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — There could be a new contender for heaviest animal to ever live. “It’s just exciting to see such a giant animal that’s so different from anything we know,” said Hans Thewissen, a paleontologist at Northeast Ohio Medical University who had no role in the research. The massive fossils, which are 39 million years old, “are unlike anything …

The heaviest animal ever may be this ancient whale found in the Peruvian desert
1 year, 5 months ago

The heaviest animal ever may be this ancient whale found in the Peruvian desert

LA Times  

An illustration reconstructs Perucetus colossus in its coastal habitat. “It’s just exciting to see such a giant animal that’s so different from anything we know,” said Hans Thewissen, a paleontologist at Northeast Ohio Medical University who had no role in the research. The massive fossils, which are 39 million years old, “are unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” said study author …

Travel: On an ocean safari to spot blue whales in the Pacific
2 years, 2 months ago

Travel: On an ocean safari to spot blue whales in the Pacific

Live Mint  

A huge tail emerged from the sea, scarily close to rails of the boat in which we stood. “There she is, our Blue Whale,” the captain of our boat said in a hushed voice that held a note of triumph. The highly endangered blue whales are usually 70-80 feet long and tip the scales at 100 tonnes.What if this mammoth …

Ocean scanner registers 50-foot ‘Megalodon’ shape in Atlantic
2 years, 4 months ago

Ocean scanner registers 50-foot ‘Megalodon’ shape in Atlantic

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An ocean scanner in …

Megalodon, a shark species that could eat a whale in just 5 bites: All you need to know
2 years, 4 months ago

Megalodon, a shark species that could eat a whale in just 5 bites: All you need to know

Hindustan Times  

The megalodon, an extinct species of mackerel shark which used to exist millions of years ago, could have devoured a creature as big as a killer whale in just five bites, a newly-published research has found. This illustration provided by J. J. Giraldo depicts a 16-meter Otodus megalodon shark predating on an 8-meter Balaenoptera whale in the Pliocene epoch, between …

Giant megalodon shark could eat a whale in a few bites, research shows
2 years, 4 months ago

Giant megalodon shark could eat a whale in a few bites, research shows

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A giant shark that swam in the world’s oceans millions of years ago could devour …

Horrifying: 39-Feet Long Whale Crushed, Dragged Along by Ship Across Pacific Ocean
3 years, 2 months ago

Horrifying: 39-Feet Long Whale Crushed, Dragged Along by Ship Across Pacific Ocean

News 18  

In an unfortunate incident, a 39 feet-long whale was found dead and hanging on the bow of a tanker. The whale was crushed by the vessel and dragged across the Pacific Ocean to Japan. Stating a local news site Yomiuri, it was reported that according to the crew, they had no idea when the ship hit the whale. A fisherman …

Dinosaur fossils found in Argentina could belong to largest creature ever to have walked the Earth
3 years, 11 months ago

Dinosaur fossils found in Argentina could belong to largest creature ever to have walked the Earth

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A collection of bones found in Neuquén Province in northwest Patagonia have been identified as …

Science Says: Diet plays big role in how huge whales can get
5 years ago

Science Says: Diet plays big role in how huge whales can get

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Whales are big, but why aren’t they bigger? Size estimates vary, but the American Cetacean Society says blue whales can grow about 100 feet long and weigh more than 100 tons. The study found that as body size increases in such whales, they become progressively less efficient as they hunt — they recover fewer calories from their …

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