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Post by brobear on Jan 22, 2022 7:56:08 GMT -5
Skull, mandible and tooth of Livyatan melvillei. Teeth (e), (f) and (g) are labelled as ‘Wf’ in (d). Teeth of a modern sperm whale, Physeter (h); and a killer whale, Orcinus (i). Taken from Lambert, et al. (2010).  |
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Post by brobear on Jan 22, 2022 7:58:39 GMT -5
The skull of Livyatan was roughly 3 m long and 1.9 m wide, making it the largest known fossil physteroid (the family that includes modern sperm whales). Based on the skull length, it has been estimated that Livyatan could grow up to 17.5m long, about the same size as a modern adult male sperm whale (genus Physeter). There are several key differences between Physeter and Livyatan. Whilst it had less teeth than Physeter, the teeth of Livyatan were much bigger, with a total length of more than 36.2 cm, compared to the 25 cm recorded in Physeter. Livyatan also had a much bigger temporal fossa (the area highlighted in grey on the skulls in the image below), meaning that it could accommodate a much larger musculus temporalis, the muscle which helps power the jaw.
Together, all of this means that Livyatan had an extremely dangerous bite, and was a big departure from the feeding style of Physeter, which uses a suction feeding method when preying upon creatures like squid in the deep ocean. The anatomy of Livyatan suggests a raptorial predation method, adapted for biting and gripping prey, more similar to the modern Killer Whales (genus Orcinus).
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Post by brobear on Jan 22, 2022 7:59:07 GMT -5
The skulls of Livyatan (A), the modern sperm whale Physeter (B), and the killer whale Orcinus (C). Taken from Lambert, et al. (2010).  |
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Post by brobear on Jan 22, 2022 8:00:18 GMT -5
Its huge size and powerful jaws would have helped Livyatan fend off other predators that shared its waters, such as an abundance of large sharks like Carcharocles (the group which includes the infamous Megalodon) and Cosmopolitodus. Its size would help the animal keep warmer for longer periods of time, and it has been suggested that Livyatan most often preyed upon medium-sized mysticetes (baleen whales) whose high-fat content would have provided extra energy to the huge predator. All of these huge aquatic body sizes were made possible due to an increase in marine productivity in the Neogene, caused by increased weathering of new mountain ranges in North America and Asia.
It isn’t known why raptorial sperm whales like Livyatan and its kin went extinct, but this stunning animal will go down in history as one of the most terrifying yet breathtaking whales ever to prowl the oceans.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2022 8:25:18 GMT -5
Megalodon slams mid diff.
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Post by brobear on Dec 16, 2022 8:51:02 GMT -5
Megalodon slams mid diff. Regardless of known fossils, the size of each is more guesswork that fact. I like to think of them as being at size-parity. But, it is also possible that one or the other had a significant size advantage. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2022 9:10:36 GMT -5
Megalodon slams mid diff. Regardless of known fossils, the size of each is more guesswork that fact. I like to think of them as being at size-parity. But, it is also possible that one or the other had a significant size advantage. Yes, i know. We can only make size estimates for both, and i've in fact made my own size estimates. But my estimates clearly suggest the Megalodon is slamming. I estimate the Megalodon to max out at 75 - 82 feet, while the Livyatan 65 - 67 feet. So, i have my money on the big, bad, giant Mega-Toothed Shark. |
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Post by brobear on Dec 16, 2022 9:17:19 GMT -5
If I were to place a wager on one or the other, I would bet on the ancient sperm whale. At size-parity, dolphins have been known to dominate sharks. Of course, until I could see them or at least have some real knowledge of their true sizes, I would not wager any large amount of money.
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Post by OldGreenGrolar on Jan 11, 2023 6:29:36 GMT -5
/\ Cetaceans have stronger and heavier bones than sharks but in turn the latter has better slicing teeth.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2023 17:25:31 GMT -5
Would modern day version of this be great white shark vs killer whale at parity? Like I mentioned, "... it seems that like-sized dolphins dominate like-sized sharks." At similar length, I believe the dolphin or porpoise dominates the shark. Also note, unlike the Orca, I don't see great white sharks attacking other sea creatures larger than themselves. Certainly not baleen whales. I mean there are literally hundreds of videos on youtube of Mako sharks killing Bottlenose dolphins. Both are similar in size. |
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