Perucetus is an extinct genus of early whale from Peru that lived during the Bartonian age of the middle Eocene. Perucetus is the largest Eocene whale measuring about 17–20 meters (56–66 ft) long. Some researchers claim that it may have rivaled or exceeded the modern blue whale in weight, in part due to the incredibly thick and dense bones this animal possessed, coupled with its already great size, while others argue that it was much lighter.[2] The ecology of Perucetus also remains largely mysterious. Based on the fossils, it was likely a slow-moving inhabitant of shallow waters. Its diet can only be speculated upon, but one suggestion proposes that it may have fed on benthic animals like crustaceans and molluscs that live on the ocean floor. Only a single species is currently known, P. colossus.
^Cite error: The named reference AT23 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Zimmer, Carl (29 February 2024). "Researchers Dispute Claim That Ancient Whale Was Heaviest Animal Ever - A new study argues that Perucetus, an ancient whale species, was certainly big, but not as big as today's blue whales". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
Perucetus is an extinct genus of early whale from Peru that lived during the Bartonian age of the middle Eocene. Perucetus is the largest Eocene whale...
long, reaching approximately 18 meters. The largest known basilosaurid, Perucetus colossus, is believed to be even bigger, with a length of about 17–20...
(37 m, 120 ft). In 2023, paleontologists estimated that the extinct whale Perucetus, discovered in Peru, may have outweighed the blue whale, with a mass of...
estimates up true, Bruhathkayosaurus would have rivaled the blue whale and Perucetus colossus as one of the largest animals to have ever existed. The largest...
shastasaurid ichthyosaurs and the ancient whale Perucetus could have rivalled the blue whale in size, with Perucetus also being heavier than the blue whale with...
(37 m, 120 ft). In 2023, paleontologists estimated that the extinct whale Perucetus, discovered in Peru, may have outweighed the blue whale, with a mass of...
The heaviest archeocete, and possibly the heaviest known mammal was Perucetus, with weight estimated at around 85–340 t (84–335 long tons; 94–375 short...
ancient human hominin that may have lived 300,000 years ago in China. Whale Perucetus colossus of the Eocene is shown to potentially be Earth's heaviest-ever...
Motani & Pyenson (2024) reevaluate the published body mass estimates of Perucetus colossus, and consider the likeliest body mass of the studied cetacean...
Pliocene epoch suggest they rivaled the size of the largest whales today. Perucetus, the largest Archaeoceti, has an estimated length exceeding 17.0–20.1...
Global Information
