An incredibly massive ancient whale skeleton reveals a new way to become a giant

Olivier Lambert

doi:10.25250/thescbr.brk769

Authors

Olivier Lambert Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0740-5791

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25250/thescbr.brk769

Keywords:

cetacean, fossil, Eocene, Basilosauridae, Peru

Abstract

Based on a fossil specimen discovered in deposits from Peru, Perucetus colossus, a new early whale species, is described and characterized by surprisingly heavy bones. Combining this massive skeleton with a body length of about 20 meters results in record-breaking body weight estimates. It makes this slow-swimming coastal giant a contender to the title of the heaviest animal ever.

Author Biography

Olivier Lambert, Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique

Group leader

Original article reference

Bianucci, G., Lambert, O., Urbina, M., Merella, M., Collareta, A., Bennion, R., Salas-Gismondi, R., Benites-Palomino, A., Post, K., Muizon, C. de, Bosio, G., Di Celma, C., Malinverno, E., Pierantoni, P. P., Villa, I. M. & Amson, E., 2023. A heavyweight early whale pushes the boundaries of vertebrate morphology. Nature, 620: 824-829.