Skip to player
Skip to main content
Skip to footer
Search
Connect
Watch fullscreen
Like
Comments
Bookmark
Share
Add to Playlist
Report
This Massive Skull Belongs to a Prehistoric Sperm Whale
Amaze Lab
Follow
9/4/2024
And it’s telling us a whole lot about the evolution of modern day sperm whales.
Category
📚
Learning
Transcript
Display full video transcript
00:00
This is a dig site in a desert in Peru, but the area wasn't always dry and arid.
00:08
Around 7 million years ago, the area was once a vast ocean, teeming with life, and these
00:13
paleontologists have just discovered signs of one of those creatures.
00:17
This is what experts say is the skull of a prehistoric sperm whale, with its teeth and
00:21
part of its jaw still intact.
00:22
The whole thing is around 4.3 feet long, and the creature it belonged to stretched some
00:27
18 feet, and is not only telling us a lot about the area it was found in, but the skull
00:31
is also providing clues about the evolution of the modern day sperm whale.
00:35
This is Aldo Benitez Palomino, one of the paleontological researchers studying the specimen.
00:40
Here's what he had to say about it.
00:41
This animal is super interesting, because unlike current sperm whales that only feed
00:44
on squid or small fish, this animal has all of the features of a predator, a very strong
00:49
bite and very developed teeth.
00:51
Researchers haven't yet identified what else these ancient whales might have fed on, but
00:54
they say this is the first major clue, as it's the first specimen with complete teeth
00:57
they've ever found.
00:58
The discovery was made by researchers with the Museum of Natural History of the Universidad
01:02
Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, and is currently on display in Lima's Natural History Museum.
Recommended
1:19
|
Up next
There Are Some Holes in Einstein’s Theory About Black Holes
Amaze Lab
yesterday
1:13
Paleontologists Discover Massive Skull Belonging to Prehistoric Sperm Whale in Peruvian Desert
Amaze Lab
3/8/2023
1:12
Three Sperm whales wash up on Skegness beach
ODN
1/25/2016
0:38
Prehistoric whale skull unearthed in Peru
Bangkok Post
2/16/2023
1:06
Sperm Whales Seen Using Poop to Defend Against Orcas
Amaze Lab
3/27/2024
1:25
This is why whales are such amazing creatures
Buzz Videos
3/11/2021
1:06
Using Poop To Defend Against Orcas? This Is Exactly What Sperm Whales Do
Amaze Lab
6/4/2025
3:29
Orcas | Facts About Killer Whales
Live Science
8/8/2023
3:30
Facts About Orca Killer Whales
Live Science
7/18/2025
1:45
Whale with Steve Backshall | show | 0 | Official Trailer
JustWatch
9/10/2023
0:55
World's rarest whale species washes up on New Zealand beach
Australian Community Media
7/16/2024
1:51
Watch The Sun's Corona In Sharpest Detail Yet Using Adaptive Optics
Space.com
yesterday
1:32
Java In Zero-G - How The Space Coffee Cup Works
Space.com
yesterday
0:40
OTD In Space - July 28: First Photo Of A Total Solar Eclipse
Space.com
yesterday
0:36
'Fantastic Four' Tops Weekend Box Office
Cheddar News
yesterday
0:45
U.S. and EU Strike New 15% Tariff Framework Deal
Cheddar News
yesterday
0:56
Americans Increasingly Treat 401(k) As Emergency Fund
Cheddar News
yesterday
4:25
Walgreens' Chief Pharmacy Officer on Biggest Flu Shot Misconceptions
Men's Journal1
11/25/2024
1:05
Demo: How to Finger Whistle
Men's Journal1
10/7/2024
0:55
How to Smoke Pork Belly
Men's Journal1
8/22/2024
1:10
Is It Possible for a Supermassive Black Hole To Actually Go Missing?
Amaze Lab
yesterday
0:59
Did You Know Alligators Can Regrow Their Tails?
Amaze Lab
yesterday
1:07
This Mammal That Walked With The Dinosaurs Was an Insane Beast
Amaze Lab
yesterday
0:57
Check Out This Insane Aurora Borealis Caught on Camera
Amaze Lab
4 days ago
1:17
Could This Cubic Ice Help Us Better Understand Cryo-Freezing
Amaze Lab
4 days ago