Ancient whale had big teeth, possibly ate other whales

now we are killing their descendants of with gasoline lust and greed

Prehistoric whale fossil found in Peru
Published: June 30, 2010 at 3:55 PM

NEW YORK, June 30 (UPI) -- Scientists say they've discovered the fossilized skull and jaw of a giant sperm whale, 12 million to 13 million years old, off the coast of Peru.

The fossil belongs to a previously unknown genus of sperm whale and has been named Leviathan melvillei in honor of Herman Melville, author of "Moby Dick," the journal Nature reported Wednesday.

At more than 40 feet long and with a 10-foot skull, it is the largest fossil sperm whale ever found, researcher Olivier Lambert of the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris reported.

Modern sperm whales have relatively small teeth in their lower jaw only, and feed by suction. The fossil specimen had teeth as long as 14 inches in both upper and lower jaws and probably killed its prey in a manner similar to modern killer whales, Lambert said.

More:
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2010/06/30/Prehistoric-whale-fossil-found-in-Peru/UPI-23841277927748/

Giant predatory whale named for 'Moby Dick' author
June 30, 2010 By RAPHAEL G. SATTER , Associated Press Writer

AP) -- Scientists have discovered an ancient whale whose bite ripped huge chunks of flesh out of other whales about 12 million years ago - and they've named it after the author of "Moby Dick."

The prehistoric sperm whale grew to between 13 and 18 meters (up to 60 feet) long, not unusual by today's standards. But unlike modern sperm whales, Leviathan melvillei, named for Herman Melville, sported vicious, tusk-like teeth some 36 centimeters (14 inches) long.

The ancient beast evidently dined on other whales, researchers said in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature. They report finding a skull of the beast in a Peruvian desert.

The researchers named it in tribute to the 19th-century author and his classic tale of the great white whale, which includes frequent digressions on natural history that punctuate the action.

"There is a chapter about fossils," one of the paper's authors, Olivier Lambert of the Natural History Museum in Paris, said. "Melville even mentions some of the fossils that I studied for my PhD thesis."

Anthony Friscia, a paleontologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, who wasn't involved in the discovery, said scattered finds of huge fossilized teeth had long hinted at the ancient whale's existence. But without a skull to fit them in, the creature's shape, size and feeding habits remained a mystery.

"The fact that they have found the entire jaw - well, almost the entire skull - is what's pretty unprecedented," he said.

More:
http://www.physorg.com/news197131708.html