Discovery of 41-Million-Year-Old “Tiny” Whale Fossil Unearthed in Egypt

Paleontologists in Egypt have made an exciting discovery – the fossil of a small, extinct whale. This comes shortly after the revelation of a potential record-breaking ancient whale species. The fossil was found in Wadi el-Hitan, also known as Whale Valley, and is believed to have lived approximately 41 million years ago. Measuring around 8 feet in length and weighing about 412 pounds, this newly identified whale, named Tutcetus rayanensis after King Tut, belonged to the extinct family of fully aquatic whales known as basilosaurids. Basilosaurids existed during the period of transition from land to sea for whales, possessing strong tails and flippers, as well as hind limbs resembling legs.

Hesham Sallam, the project leader and a professor of vertebrate paleontology at the American University in Cairo, described whales’ evolution as a remarkable journey from land-dwelling creatures to beautiful, fully aquatic beings. He stated that Tutcetus represents a crucial phase in this transition.

According to the study, prehistoric whales that roamed the land were relatively small. The scientists hypothesize that the small size of Tutcetus may be either a primitive trait or a result of global warming during that time period.

The fossil discovery includes a skull, jaws, hyoid bone, and vertebra pieces, all encased in a limestone block. Through the scanning of its teeth and bones, scientists were able to reconstruct the growth and development of Tutcetus, revealing that the species was relatively mature from birth. It is possible that this whale had a relatively short lifespan.