Livyatan

Livyatan; Temporal range: Miocene PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
	A restoration of Livyatan melvillei by Cameron Dillon Portraying it as a large black toothed whale
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Superfamily:	Physeteroidea
Family:	incertae sedis
Genus:	†Livyatan; Lambert et al., 2010
Species:	†L. melvillei
Binomial name
	Livyatan melvillei; Lambert et al., 2010
Synonyms
	Leviathan melvillei Lambert et al., 2010;

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 estimated 13.5 to 14.66 metres (47–48 feet) long, which is bigger than female sperm whales, but smaller than male adult male sperm whales. 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[]

A partial skull with of L. melvillei was discovered at the Pisco Formation in Peru in 2008. It was discovered by a researcher on a school field trip. Researchers decided to name the specimen an the Genus Leviathan, after the Biblical monstrous whale, but Leviathan was a synonym for Mastodon scientifically, so they changed the name to Livyatan. Livyatan was classified as a member of the group Physeteroidia, which includes modern day Sperm Whales.

Description[]

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 estimated 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(Which is later false). 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.

Fabio Alejandro later scaled L. melvillei to around 14.66 Meters (48 Feet), weighing 48 Tonnes (which is 53 US Tons).

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. 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[]

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.

In the Media[]

Livyatan appeared in the video game Jurassic Park Builder.
Livyatan appears in the TV show Dino Dana.
Precious from Ice Age: continental drift is a Livyatan. She is the pet of Granny.

Other Wikis[]

https://prehistoric-wiki.fandom.com/wiki/Livyatan

Livyatan

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