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The giant bite of a new raptorial sperm whale from the Miocene epoch of Peru

Author

Listed:
  • Olivier Lambert

    (Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique
    Present address: Département Histoire de la Terre, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris 75005, France.)

  • Giovanni Bianucci

    (Università di Pisa)

  • Klaas Post

    (Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam)

  • Christian de Muizon

    (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle)

  • Rodolfo Salas-Gismondi

    (Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos)

  • Mario Urbina

    (Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos)

  • Jelle Reumer

    (Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam
    Utrecht University)

Abstract

Sperm whales with the killer instinct Modern sperm whales have the biggest bite of any tetrapod, but their teeth are relatively small and restricted to the lower jaw, and they feed by suction. The discovery of large teeth in the fossil record had suggested, however, that predatory sperm whales once existed, similar in habit to today's killer whales, but much larger. Suggestion becomes reality with the discovery of the fossil teeth and jaws of a predatory sperm whale from the Middle Miocene of Peru, almost as large as a modern sperm whale but with a three-metre head and jaws full of teeth. This beast was probably able to prey upon large marine vertebrates — perhaps the medium-sized baleen whales abundant around 12 million years ago — in a way similar to the modern killer whale.

Suggested Citation

  • Olivier Lambert & Giovanni Bianucci & Klaas Post & Christian de Muizon & Rodolfo Salas-Gismondi & Mario Urbina & Jelle Reumer, 2010. "The giant bite of a new raptorial sperm whale from the Miocene epoch of Peru," Nature, Nature, vol. 466(7302), pages 105-108, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:466:y:2010:i:7302:d:10.1038_nature09067
    DOI: 10.1038/nature09067
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