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Researchers Find Fossil of “Tiny” Whale (8 Feet Long) From 41 Million Years Ago and Name It After Egyptian King

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Author Josie Messeter

the discovery of a tiny whale fossil
Left image: By Mohammed S. Antar, Abdullah S. Gohar, Heba El-Desouky, Erik R. Seiffert, Sanaa El-Sayed, Alexander G. Claxton & Hesham M. Sallam - Antar, M.S., Gohar, A.S., El-Desouky, H. et al. (2023). A diminutive new basilosaurid whale reveals the trajectory of the cetacean life histories during the Eocene. Commun Biol 6, 707. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-04986-w, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=135867510, Right image: Hesham Sallam via Mansoura University vertebrate palaeontology centre.

The discovery of the fossil of this tiny whale is a huge thing! This recently discovered fossil has proven to be a previously unknown ancestor of the modern whales we’re so familiar with today. It measured 8 feet in length, which generally is a fairly decent size. However, compared to the longest whale to exist today (the 98 feet long blue whale) this whale is truly tiny.

The Huge Discovery of a Tiny Whale Fossil

The researchers with their fossil find
The researchers with their fossil find. Image by Hesham Sallam via Mansoura University vertebrate palaeontology centre.

Paleontologists in Egypt have unearthed the fossil of a small whale species that lived around 41 million years ago. Measuring about 8 feet in length, the species represents one of the smallest known members of the basilosaurid family, a group of fully aquatic whales.

Unearthing the Fossil in Wadi el-Hitan

Sunset at wadi hitan
Sunset at wadi hitan. By Medomadrex – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61628503

The fossil was discovered in Wadi el-Hitan, a region in Egypt renowned for its abundance of ancient whale remains. The area, also known as Whale Valley, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, providing a rich source of paleontological finds that shed light on the evolution of whales.

A Surprising Find: From a Single Tooth to a Full Fossil

Tutcetus, partial cranium of T. rayanensis
Tutcetus, partial cranium of T. rayanensis (MUVP 501, holotype), Sath El-Hadid Formation, Wadi El-Rayan valley (40 km northeast of Wadi El-Hitan). By Antar et al. – Mohammed S. Antar, Abdullah S. Gohar, Heba El-Desouky, Erik R. Seiffert, Sanaa El-Sayed, Alexander G. Claxton and Hesham M. Sallam: A diminutive new basilosaurid whale reveals the trajectory of the cetacean life histories during the Eocene. Nature Communications 6, 2023, pp. 707 (fig. 1), doi:10.1038/s42003-023-04986-w, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=135814207

Initially, the discovery started with a single exposed tooth found in a limestone block. As the researchers continued to excavate, they uncovered more parts of the whale, leading to the identification of an entirely new species, which they named Tutcetus rayanensis.

Naming the Whale After King Tutankhamun

Tutamkhamun tomb museum, Ancient Egypt.
Tutamkhamun tomb museum, Ancient Egypt. Image via Depositphotos

The newly identified species was named Tutcetus rayanensis, in honor of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun. This naming also commemorates the discovery of King Tut’s tomb a century ago and the Wadi el-Rayan area where the fossil was found.

Characteristics of Tutcetus rayanensis

Fossil of Dorudon Atrox in Wadi Al-Hitan, Wadi Al Rayyan preserve, Al-Fayyūm, Egypt.
Fossil of Dorudon Atrox in Wadi Al-Hitan, Wadi Al Rayyan preserve, Al-Fayyūm, Egypt. By Clr202, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4456399

Tutcetus rayanensis weighed around 412 pounds and measured approximately 8 feet in length. This makes it the smallest known member of the basilosaurid family, a group of extinct whales that were among the first to live exclusively in aquatic environments.

Diet and Lifestyle of Tutcetus rayanensis

Life reconstruction of Tutcetus rayanensis: A scene depicting two extinct basilosaurid whales, with the foreground individual preying on a nautilid cephalopod and another swimming in the background.
Life reconstruction of Tutcetus rayanensis: A scene depicting two extinct basilosaurid whales, with the foreground individual preying on a nautilid cephalopod and another swimming in the background. By Mohammed S. Antar, Abdullah S. Gohar, Heba El-Desouky, Erik R. Seiffert, Sanaa El-Sayed, Alexander G. Claxton & Hesham M. Sallam – Antar, M.S., Gohar, A.S., El-Desouky, H. et al. (2023). A diminutive new basilosaurid whale reveals the trajectory of the cetacean life histories during the Eocene. Commun Biol 6, 707. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-04986-w, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=135867514

Analysis of the whale’s teeth suggests that it fed on small squids and possibly crustaceans. The enamel of its teeth indicates a diet similar to that of modern dolphins, which also prey on small marine creatures, highlighting the evolutionary continuity within cetaceans.

Rapid Growth and Short Life

Life Reconstruction of Tutcetus rayanensis, n. gen. et sp.: Depicting the extinct basilosaurid whale swimming in the Tethys Ocean of present-day Egypt, 41 million years ago.
Life Reconstruction of Tutcetus rayanensis, n. gen. et sp.: Depicting the extinct basilosaurid whale swimming in the Tethys Ocean of present-day Egypt, 41 million years ago.

The study of Tutcetus rayanensis revealed that the whale likely had a short and fast-paced life. The rapid development of its teeth and bones suggests it reached maturity quickly compared to other basilosaurids, which tended to live longer and grow larger.

A Glimpse into Whale Evolution

Basilosaurus sp. - fossil whale skull (cast) from the Eocene of Egypt. (public display, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA).
Basilosaurus sp. – fossil whale skull (cast) from the Eocene of Egypt. (public display, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA). By James St. John – Basilosaurus sp. (fossil whale) (Eocene; Egypt) 2, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=84648358

Tutcetus rayanensis offers valuable insights into the early stages of whale evolution. As a member of the basilosaurid family, it represents a key phase in the transition of whales from land-dwelling animals to fully aquatic creatures, showcasing the adaptability of life.

Comparison with Other Basilosaurids

Skeletal drawing of Perucetus colossus, a kind of Basilosaurids.
Skeletal drawing of Perucetus colossus, a kind of Basilosaurids. By Ivan Iofrida – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=135509527

While most basilosaurids ranged from 13 to 66 feet in length, Tutcetus rayanensis was notably smaller at only 8 feet. This discovery highlights the diversity within the basilosaurid family and the varying sizes that these ancient whales could reach.

Significance of the Discovery

An ancient whale fossil skeleton at the Harvard natural History museum.
An ancient whale fossil skeleton at the Harvard natural History museum.

The discovery of Tutcetus rayanensis adds to the growing body of knowledge about ancient marine life and the evolutionary history of whales. It reminds us of the crucial importance of regions like Wadi el-Hitan in providing critical fossils that help scientists piece together the story of life on Earth.

We may know a lot about our planet and the many species’ which have once called it home, but we are still a far (very, very far) way from knowing everything – and what’s more exciting than knowing that there’s always a mystery out there for us to solve?

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