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近日,一头中新世巨型抹香鲸被科学家复原出来。复原图根据2008年在秘鲁南部出土的化石绘制,化石既有颅骨,也有颌,保存得十分完整。这种抹香鲸被命名为“麦尔维尔鲸”(Leviathanmelvillei),生活在距今1300万年前。科学家研究后得出惊人的结论:这种鲸鱼是一种食肉鲸,体长约为18米;它巨大的牙齿(有些长度达到36厘米)表明,这种庞然大物曾捕食更为强悍的猎物,很可能包括鲸类的近亲,是一种非常强悍和可怕的海洋生物。
Recently, a giant sperm whale was recovered by scientists. Based on the fossil drawings unearthed in southern Peru in 2008, the fossil contains both skulls and jaws and is well preserved. This sperm whale is named “Leviathanmelvillei” and lived 13 million years ago. The scientists came to the conclusion that the whale was a carnivorous whale with a body length of about 18 meters. Its huge teeth (some 36 centimeters in length) suggested that such monsters preyed upon more powerful prey, May include close relatives of whales, is a very powerful and terrifying marine life.