Fossil analysis of the ancient whale Perucetus colossus, which lived along Peru's coast more than 37 million years ago, indicated it may have weighed more than 300 tons and measured about 60 feet long.
Notes on verification
Confirmed as accurate to the original 2023 Nature study by Bianucci et al., corroborated by NBC News, Fox News, and National Geographic. However, a 2024 PeerJ follow-up study substantially revised the mass estimate downward to 60-110 tons, so the claim reflects initial findings rather than current scientific consensus. [tier=silver indep_score=0.875 clusters=2 claim_tier=notable]
Sources
- The 11 most astonishing scientific discoveries of 2023 (seed:science_and_space)
- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/heaviest-animal-ever-whale-peru-desert-rcna97912 (corroboration)
- https://www.foxnews.com/science/worlds-heaviest-animal-may-ancient-whale-found-peruvian-desert-scientists-say.amp (corroboration)