Newly Discovered Ancient Whale Possibly the Heaviest Animal in History

Scientists have discovered the fossils of what may have been the heaviest animal ever to exist during an excavation in the Peruvian desert.

The P. colossus is a cetacean species, like whales, dolphins, and porpoises. This long-lost whale's remnants weigh 5-7 tons and scientists believe that the P. colossus may have been three times heavier than blue whales, the world's biggest animals today that weigh more than 300,000 pounds, according to Scientific American. The groundbreaking paleontological finding was first reported in Nature on August 2.

The newly found ancient whale Perucetus colossus may have had an odd body type, with a tiny head linked to a large, bloated body.

Massive Bones

Nearly 10 years ago, lead paleontologist Mario Urbina discovered one of P. colossus's vertebrae, but his colleague Rodolfo Salas-Gismondi was initially dubious due to the specimen's rarity. But when additional examinations established the fossil's veracity, further digging turned up a treasure trove of 13 vertebrae, four ribs, and a portion of a hip. These vertebrae were so heavy that the excavation had to be done slowly and carefully over time.

Researchers measured the ancient whale's weight and size using 3D scanners and drilling into the bones, comparing it to contemporary marine creatures, AP News reported. According to experts' estimations, P. colossus may have weighed between 85 and 340 metric tons (94 to 375 tons), which would place it in the same weight class as the giant blue whales that have been uncovered so far, which weigh around 200 tons (180 metric tons).

Some blue whales may grow to be longer than 100 feet (30 meters), although the body of P. colossus expanded to around 66 feet (20 meters). As a result, even though P. colossus could have been among the most enormous creatures; it was probably not the longest.

The thick bones of the Perucetus colossus may indicate that it dwelled in a probable shallow coastal environment. The massive sea creature may have stayed near the bottom because of its massive bones, similar to other coastal residents like manatees.

But There's a Missing Piece

Researchers are wondering about the whale's nutrition since the head is missing. While it is unknown what P. colossus consumed to maintain its enormous size, it is possible that it scavenged along the bottom or ate massive numbers of krill and other small marine animals, as per a report from Science News.

The discovery of the Perucetus colossus brings up new perspectives for comprehending the prehistoric world and the astounding variety of prehistoric species that once inhabited our planet's waters, and further study and analysis are now being conducted.