"Unearthing Earth's Largest Animal: The Ancient Whale That Could Have Been the Heaviest Ever"

TL;DR Summary
Fossils of an extinct marine mammal, Perucetus colossus, recently discovered in Peru suggest that it may have weighed up to 340 metric tons, challenging the blue whale's status as the largest animal ever. The massive creature, resembling a manatee, has compelled scientists to reconsider how animals can grow to such gigantic sizes. However, some experts remain skeptical of the estimates and believe more fossils are needed before declaring a new heavyweight champion. The discovery highlights the various ways in which whales can evolve into giants and raises questions about the diet and feeding habits of this ancient leviathan.
- It looks like a giant manatee. And it may have been Earth's largest animal ever. The Washington Post
- Newly discovered whale species could have been heaviest animal ever The Guardian
- Ancient whale from Peru may be most massive animal ever on Earth Reuters
- The heaviest animal ever may be this ancient whale found in the Peruvian desert The Washington Post
- This Ancient Whale May Have Been the Heaviest Animal Ever The New York Times
- View Full Coverage on Google News
Reading Insights
Total Reads
0
Unique Readers
1
Time Saved
4 min
vs 5 min read
Condensed
89%
913 → 98 words
Want the full story? Read the original article
Read on The Washington Post