Connect with us

Entertainment

36-million-year-old whale fossil found

Published

3 years ago

on

  • A 36-Million-Year-Old Whale fossil was found in a Peruvian desert.
  • A complete skull of the Peruvian basilosaurus was discovered in the Ocucaje Desert.
  • The Ocucaje Desert is rich in fossils, providing scientists with 42 million years’ worth of evolutionary evidence.

LIMA: Paleontologists on Thursday unveiled the fossilized remains of an ancient whale that inhabited the seas 36 million years ago, found last year in a Peruvian desert.

“We have presented the new Peruvian basilosaurus, it is the complete skull of an archaic whale that lived 36 million years ago,” paleontologist Mario Urbina, head of the team that discovered the skeleton, told AFP.

Urbina said the basilosaurus was found at the end of 2021 in the Ocucaje Desert in the Ica department, about 350 kilometers (215 miles) south of Lima. The desolate landscape was a shallow sea millions of years ago, and its dunes have yielded large numbers of striking primitive sea mammal remains.

The “Ocucaje Predator,” as the researchers dubbed it, was about 17 meters (55 feet) long and used its massive, powerful teeth to feed on tuna, sharks and schools of sardines.

“This finding is very important because there are no other similar specimens discovered in the world,” said Urbina, a researcher at the National University of San Marcos, in Lima.

Team member Rodolfo Salas-Gismondi explained the basilosaurus differs from other known ancient whale species by its size and the development of its teeth, both of which indicate the animal was likely at the top of the food chain.

“This is an extraordinary find because of its great state of preservation,” he told AFP. “This animal was one of the largest predators of its time.”

“At that time the Peruvian sea was warm,” added Salas-Gismondi, who heads the Department of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Natural History Museum in Lima. “Thanks to this type of fossil, we can reconstruct the history of the Peruvian sea.”

The first cetaceans, like the basilosaurus, evolved from land animals some 55 million years ago.

By the late Eocene period (between 56 million and 34 million years ago), cetaceans had fully adapted to marine life.

Whales had not yet evolved, and almost all cetaceans were marine macropredators, according to the research team.

The Ocucaje Desert is rich in fossils, the researchers said, providing scientists with 42 million years’ worth of evolutionary evidence.

Other fossils found there include four-legged dwarf whales, dolphins, sharks and other species from the Miocene period (between 23 million and five million years ago).

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Entertainment

Aryan Khan’s Netflix debut web series is announced by Shah Rukh Khan.

Published

1 day ago

on

By

The premiere web series of Aryan Khan, Shah Rukh Khan’s firstborn son, will be available for streaming on Netflix India starting next year, the streaming service formally announced on social media Tuesday night.

Aryan is the director and creator of the untitled “one-of-a-kind series” about Bollywood, which is produced by SRK’s wife Gauri Khan. “Explore Bollywood like never before… on Netflix,” they stated.

For the series, Red Chillies Entertainment, owned by Khan, collaborates with Netflix.

The “multi-genre” show is said to be set against the backdrop of the glamorous film industry and “promises an unabashed, entertaining ride through the adventures of a charming, ambitious outsider navigating the glitzy yet tricky world of Bollywood,” though cast details are still unknown.

“We are thrilled to present this new series with Netflix that offers a refreshing look into the glamorous cinematic world and what it takes to succeed as an outsider,” the “Jawan” actor said in reference to the production.

“The team at Red Chillies Entertainment, along with Aryan and numerous enthusiastic minds, have brought this unique story to life.” “This one will be full of heart, hustle, and entertainment,” he continued.

Monika Shergill, the programming head for Netflix India, said, “Aryan takes a bold and dynamic approach to directing and has produced something genuinely unique and incredibly entertaining.” “We can’t wait for our members to watch it because it builds on our shared passion for outstanding storytelling and new voices.”

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Aamir Khan declared his retirement from the film industry.

Published

1 week ago

on

By

Aamir Khan, a prominent actor and director with over 35 years of service in Bollywood, revealed that he nearly withdrew from his work a few years ago, but his family persuaded him to reconsider this choice.

In a recent joint interview with his former spouse Kiran Rao, Khan stated, “I resolved to resign prior to Laal Singh Chadha.” I was undergoing a personal journey.

“As the Covid pandemic waned, I abruptly recognised that I have devoted the majority of my adult life, from the age of 18 to the present, entirely to cinema and films.” Consequently, I perceived that I had not sufficiently supported my connections with my children, siblings, and family. Regardless of whether it was Kiran or Reena during my marriage to them. He articulated that he believed he had not sufficiently supported these individuals. I experienced significant shame and was dissatisfied with my actions. Having completed numerous films over the past 35 years, I can now concentrate on my family.

The ‘Taare Zameen Par’ actor recalled the moment he informed his family of the news. He remembered, “I gathered my family and expressed my desire to abandon my film career to spend time with all of you.” My reaction was not due to any disappointment with the film.

“Junaid and Ira, his elder children from his first wife Reena Dutta, persuaded me to continue.” Junaid enquired, ‘Why must you oscillate between extremes?’ There exists an intermediary space in which one can reside. They elucidated that to me, and I returned. Khan disclosed that no one was aware of his resignation, ultimately stating, “No tangible outcome resulted from it.” It was merely my individual path.

Aamir Khan will next appear in the self-produced film ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’, alongside Genelia Deshmukh and Darsheel Safary. The spiritual successor to ‘Taare Zameen Par’ (2007) is set for theatrical release on December 25.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Pink is Yumna Zaidi’s favorite color.

Published

2 weeks ago

on

By

After proving herself in a number of roles, Pakistani actress Yumna Zaidi is rightfully considered a household name in Hollywood.

The “Zara Yaad Kar” starlet enthusiastically shared new images on Instagram. She wears something pink in the clips. Their distinctive posing style is one of the images’ strongest qualities.

The photographs all have their own unique style. “The Waris Shah’s Heer” is the title of the book she is seen carrying in one of the clicks.

She captioned the photo with: “Today’s wellness was Pink.”

Many gushed fans shared their thoughts in the comments area after being utterly enchanted. A user gushed, calling it “Gorgeous.” Along with the starlet’s compliments, another user dropped a slew of emojis.

Yumna has amassed more than 9.4 million Instagram followers as a result of her steadfast dedication to her career.

Continue Reading

Trending