"Scientists discover a whale of a killer; Cetacean predator named for author of ‘Moby Dick’" by Raphael G. Satter, Associated Press | July 1, 2010
LONDON — 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 up to 60 feet long, not unusual by today’s standards.
But....
The ancient beast evidently dined on other whales, researchers said in today’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....
Anthony Friscia, a paleontologist at the University of California at Los Angeles who was not involved in the discovery, said the ancient beasts were the killer whales of their time, although on a much grander scale....
This artist’s rendering depicts a frightening scene scientists say played out 12 million years ago in what is now Peru. (C. Letenneur/ Nature via Associated Press)
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Related: The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Also see: Peru's Prison Whore
