Peruvian scientists have unveiled a potential new record holder for the heaviest animal in Earth’s history. Despite the long-standing reign of the blue whale, researchers announced that fossils of a colossal creature discovered in Peru, named Perucetus colossus, might challenge its claim to the title.
During the Eocene epoch, the early whale resembled a manatee and measured around 20 meters (66ft). It weighed up to 340 metric tonnes, surpassing even today’s blue whale and the largest dinosaurs. The scientific name refers to it as the “colossal Peruvian whale.”
Giovanni Bianucci, a paleontologist from the University of Pisa in Italy, led the research published in Nature. He noted that the remarkable feature of this creature is its extreme weight, demonstrating how evolution can produce unimaginable characteristics.
Perucetus had a minimum mass estimate of 85 tonnes and an average estimate of 180 tonnes. In comparison, the largest-known blue whale weighed about 190 tonnes but was longer at 33.5 meters (110ft). The Argentinosaurus, considered to be the most massive dinosaur, weighed an estimated 76 tonnes. It lived around 95 million years ago in Argentina, according to a study published in May.
Mario Urbina from the University of San Marcos’ Natural History Museum discovered Perucetus’ partial skeleton over a decade ago. An international team spent years excavating the fossils from the Ica desert in Peru, once an underwater region known for marine fossils. The findings included 13 vertebrae, four ribs, and a hip bone, all unusually dense and compact.
The dense bones of Perucetus suggest it likely inhabited shallow, coastal waters similar to manatees and dugongs, known as sirenians. These marine creatures also possess heavy bones to help them stay close to the seafloor. Though no cranial or tooth remains were found, researchers believe that Perucetus lived a sirenian-like lifestyle. They likely fed near the bottom of shallow coastal waters.
Palaeontologist Olivier Lambert of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels described Perucetus as a peaceful giant, resembling a super-sized manatee. The skeletal traits indicate its relation to Basilosaurus, another early whale of similar length but less massive. Unlike Basilosaurus, which was an active predator with a streamlined body, powerful jaws, and large teeth, Perucetus was probably a slow swimmer.
Hans Thewissen, a paleontologist at Northeast Ohio Medical University, expressed excitement over the discovery of such a unique and massive animal.
