Wild Wonders

Livyatan: Miocene Megatooth Sperm Whale Predator


Listen Later

Describes Livyatan, an extinct Miocene sperm whale ancestor about 12 million years old, notable for its massive, deeply rooted teeth, the largest non-tusk teeth known. These teeth allowed it to act as a pursuit predator, hunting large prey, possibly including other whales. The text also covers the fossil’s naming history, initially called Leviathan melvili before being renamed Livyatan, and explains the origin of the “sperm whale” misnomer. Additionally, it notes that Livyatan likely had a spermaceti organ similar to modern sperm whales, used for echolocation or deep diving.











You can listen and download our episodes for free on more than 10 different platforms:
https://linktr.ee/wild_wonders1

Produced by:
https://www.podcaistudio.com/
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Wild WondersBy Wild Wonders