Scientists have discovered fossils of an ancient giant whale that could challenge the blue whale for the title of the heaviest animal to ever live, according to the AP. The new species, named Perucetus colossus, was described in the journal Nature on Wednesday. The fossils were initially unearthed over a decade ago in the Ica desert in Peru, a region known for its marine fossils. The bones, which are 39 million years old, include 13 vertebrae, four ribs, and a hip bone.
The massive fossils, described by study author Alberto Collareta of Italy’s University of Pisa as “unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” weigh over 220 pounds each and have ribs nearly 5 feet long. After excavating the fossils, the researchers used 3D scanners to study the bones and estimated the size and weight of the whale using comparisons to modern marine mammals. They calculated that the ancient giant weighed between 94 and 375 tons, possibly making it the heaviest animal ever. However, it was most likely not the longest animal ever, as blue whales can grow to over 100 feet in length. The density and weight of the ancient whale’s bones suggest that it may have spent its time in shallow, coastal waters.
It is unclear what the whale ate to sustain its massive size, as the skull was not found. Researchers speculate that it may have scavenged for food along the seafloor or consumed large quantities of krill and other small sea creatures. A paleontologist who was not involved in the research added that the whale’s feeding habits could have been entirely different from anything imagined.
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