Livyatan

Livyatan, sometimes known as the killer sperm whale or the dire whale, is an extinct genus of physeteroid whale, which lived during the Miocene epoch, approximately 12-13 million years ago. The type species is the only known species, being L. melvillei. L. melvillei was 13.5 to 17.5 metres (47–57 feet) long, about the same as a modern adult male sperm whale. The skull of Livyatan is 3 metres (10 feet) long. Unlike the modern sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, L. melvillei had large, fully functional teeth in both its upper and lower jaws.

The jaws of L. melvillei were robust and its temporal fossa was also considerably larger than in the modern-age sperm whale. L. melvillei is one of the largest predators yet known, with whale experts using the phrase "the biggest tetrapod bite ever found" to explain their find.

The teeth of L. melvillei are up to 36 centimetres (1.18 ft, or 14.1 inches) long and are thought to be the largest of any animal yet known. Larger 'teeth' (tusks) are known, such as walrus and elephant tusks, but these are not used directly in eating. Fossil remains of many other animals—including baleen whales, beaked whales, dolphins, porpoises, sharks, sea turtles, seals and sea birds—have been found at the same site where the remains of L. melvillei have been excavated.

L. melvillei would have been a top predator of its time along with the giant shark, O. megalodon, which was contemporaneous with L. melvillei in the same region, and the whale probably had a profound impact on the structuring of Miocene marine communities. The appearance of gigantic raptorial sperm whales in the fossil record coincides with a phase of diversification and size-range increase of the baleen-bearing mysticetes in the Miocene. It has even been suggested that O. megalodon was prey for this whale, although O. megalodon might have also preyed upon this whale from time to time if it could get one.

L. melvillei is likely to have preyed upon 7–10 meters (23–33 feet) baleen whales, seals, dolphins, sharks (of all sizes), turtles, and giant squid. It probably hunted in pods, like the sperm whales of today, to avoid other large predators like the Megalodon (or to work together in order to overpower the shark). The pods may have reached between 8 and 11 individuals.

Taxonomy[]

Livyathan melvillei 2343 — Skull of the holotype at the Museum of Natural History, Lima of National University of San Marcos

In November 2008, fossil remains of Livyatan melvillei were discovered in the sediments of Pisco formation at Cerro Colorado, 35 kilometres (22 mi) south-southwest of Ica, Peru. The remains include a partially preserved skull with teeth and mandible. Rotterdam Natural History Museum researcher Klaas Post stumbled across them on the final day of a field trip there in November 2008. Post was part of an international team of researchers, led by Dr Christian de Muizon, director of the Natural History Museum in Paris, and included other paleontologists from Utrecht University and the natural history museums of Rotterdam, Museo storia naturale di Pisa, the Museum of Natural History of the National University of San Marcos in Lima and Brussels.

The fossils have been dated at 12–13 million years old and were prepared in Lima, Peru, and are now part of the collection of the Natural History Museum there.

Classification[]

A giant 30-centimeter-long tooth was unearthed by scientist Murray Orr on the beaches of Beaumaris Bay. This locality is known for preserving many cetacean and shark remains, with this fossilized tooth belonging to a massive extinct sperm whale. It is said the animal was closely related to Livyatan melvillei. The whale is theorized to have crushed smaller whales in the open ocean, estimated at an astounding 18 meter (59 foot) length and a 40,000 kilogram (88,000 pound) weight. The fossil dates about 5 million year ago. The fossil was donated to Museum Victoria, where researcher Dr. Erich Fitzgerald and team are currently studying the specimen. It was dated to the Pliocene and likely represents a second species of Livyatan.The ancestors of orcas probably lead to the extinction of livyatan

Physeteroidea

†Eudelphis

	†Zygophyseter

	†Brygmophyseter

†Acrophyseter

†Livyatan

†'Aulophyseter' rionegrensis

Physeteridae

†Orycterocetus

	†Idiorophus

	†Physeterula

†Idiophyseter

	Physeter

	†Aulophyseter

†Placoziphius

†Diaphorocetus

Kogiidae

†Aprixokogia

	Kogia

	†Praekogia

†Scaphokogia

†Thalassocetus

Description[]

Livyathan sculpture made by Jaap Roos — Life restoration by Jaap Roos

Livyatan melvillei, sometimes known as the dire whale, is an extinct species of physeteroid whale, which lived during the Miocene epoch, approximately 12-13 million years ago. Livyatan melvillei was 13.5 to 17.5 metres (47–57 feet) long, about the same as a modern adult male sperm whale. The biggest ones could go to 20 meters (70 feet) {Extremely rare though.} The skull of Livyatan melvillei is 3 metres (10 feet) long. Unlike the modern sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, L. melvillei had functional teeth in both its jaws.The jaws of L. melvillei were robust and its temporal fossa was also considerably larger than in the modern-age sperm whale. L. melvillei is one of the largest predators yet known, with whale experts using the phrase "the biggest tetrapod bite ever found" to explain their find. Its mandible was also located at the same place of Sperm Whales today.

Livyatan size.svg — Diagram comparing the upper and lower size estimates of *Livyatan* (bottom three) with the size of mature sperm whales, including one of the largest individuals recorded (top three), and a human

Skull[]

The fossil skull of L. melvillei had a curved base, which may have housed a large spermaceti organ, which enables sperm whales to dive deep to forage today. However, L. melvillei probably caught large prey near the surface, so it likely had other functions. It was possibly an organ for echolocation, acoustic displays (with the spermaceti organ functioning as a resonance chamber), or for head-butting, possibly against rival males during mating or for striking prey.

The skull of Livyatan melvillei found is 3 meters long.

Teeth[]

Livyathan melvillei — The teeth of *Livyatan* were among the biggest of any animal at over 31 cm (12 in) in length.

Unlike the modern sperm whale ( Physeter macrocephalus ), L. melvillei had functional teeth in both jaws. The jaws of L. melvillei were powerful and its temporal fossa was considerably larger than that of the living sperm whale. L. melvillei is one of the largest known predators today, and whale experts use the phrase, “ the largest bite of a tetrapod ever found ,” to explain its find. The teeth of L. melvillei found reach 36 cm and are the longest found in any animal known so far. Longer teeth (tusks) are known, for example, in the walrus, narwhal and elephant, but they are not used directly for feeding or hunting.

Paleobiology[]

Livyatan lived from the Miocene to the Pliocene, the same time as Megalodon. Some scientists believe that Livyatan hunted Megalodon but others believe its the other way around, but both mysteriously became extinct at the same time. Livyatan was a hypercarnivore, which means that its diet was more than 70 percent meat, which is why scientists believe it is the ancestor of Modern Sperm Whales.

Killerwhales jumping — *Livyatan* probably occupied the same niche as the modern killer whale (*Orcinus orca*).

Livyatan was an apex predator, and it usually hunted animals close to the surface. Its favorite prey was medium sized Baleen Whales, but it also hunted anything else it could reach, like Megalodon. It occupied a Niche similar to the ones Killer Whales do today. Livyatan usually weakened its prey, either by ramming it or by biting and holding it in one place without letting it move. But unlike modern Carnivorous whales, Livyatan hunted alone.

Paleoecology[]

VMNH megalodon — Megalodon (above) and *Livyatan* were apex predators of the same region. Artwork by Karen Carr

Livyatan lived in the waters around modern South America. It prefered warmer waters, around the Equator. The specimen L. mellvei lived during the Tortonian stage of The upper miocene, about 9.9 to 8.9 mya.

Extinction[]

Livyatan became extinct due to a sudden cool in temperature towards the late Miocene, along with competition pressures due to the appearance of early Orca relatives.

Appearance in other media[]

Jurassic Park[]

Livyatan appeared in the video game Jurassic Park: Builder.

Jurassic Park Wiki

Read more Livyatan on Jurassic Park Wiki