Scientists in Peru Discover a Huge Whale Ancestor
2022-03-25
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1Scientists in Peru have discovered the skull of an ancestor of modern-day whales.
2The fossilized skull is believed to be about 36 million years old.
3Researchers say the discovery suggests that the animal lived in an ocean that once covered Peru's southern Ocucaje desert.
4The scientists reported the skull was in good condition when dug up last year.
5It has a series of long, pointy teeth, said Rodolfo Salas, chief of paleontology at Peru's National University of San Marcos.
6Salas spoke to reporters about the discovery.
7Scientists say the ancient mammal was a basilosaurus, which belongs to the cetacean family.
8This is the same family that includes modern water creatures like whales, dolphins and porpoises.
9The name basilosaurus means "king lizard" and the animal is thought to have been about 12 meters long.
10But it was not a reptile although its long body might have moved like a large snake, the researchers said.
11Salas called the animal "a marine monster" that may belong to a new species of basilosaurus.
12"When it was searching for its food, it surely did a lot of damage," he added.
13The skull is already being shown at the university's museum.
14Scientists believe the first cetaceans evolved from mammals that lived on land about 55 million years ago.
15Salas explained that when the ancient basilosaurus died out, its skull likely sank to the bottom of the ocean, where it was quickly buried and remained.
16"Back during this age, the conditions for fossilization were very good in Ocucaje," Salas said.
17I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Scientists in Peru have discovered the skull of an ancestor of modern-day whales. 2The fossilized skull is believed to be about 36 million years old. Researchers say the discovery suggests that the animal lived in an ocean that once covered Peru's southern Ocucaje desert. 3The scientists reported the skull was in good condition when dug up last year. It has a series of long, pointy teeth, said Rodolfo Salas, chief of paleontology at Peru's National University of San Marcos. Salas spoke to reporters about the discovery. 4Scientists say the ancient mammal was a basilosaurus, which belongs to the cetacean family. This is the same family that includes modern water creatures like whales, dolphins and porpoises. 5The name basilosaurus means "king lizard" and the animal is thought to have been about 12 meters long. But it was not a reptile although its long body might have moved like a large snake, the researchers said. 6Salas called the animal "a marine monster" that may belong to a new species of basilosaurus. "When it was searching for its food, it surely did a lot of damage," he added. 7The skull is already being shown at the university's museum. 8Scientists believe the first cetaceans evolved from mammals that lived on land about 55 million years ago. Salas explained that when the ancient basilosaurus died out, its skull likely sank to the bottom of the ocean, where it was quickly buried and remained. 9"Back during this age, the conditions for fossilization were very good in Ocucaje," Salas said. 10I'm Bryan Lynn. 11Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. 12We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 13___________________________________________________________ 14Words in This Story 15skull - n. the part of the head, made of bone, that protects the brain 16fossil - n. part of an animal or plant that lived a long time ago that has been preserved in rock 17mammal - v. a kind of animal that feeds milk to its young and that usually has hair or fur covering most of its skin 18marine - adj. found in or relating to the sea 19species - n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants 20evolve - v. to develop or make something develop over time