How big was Basilosaurus, and what did it eat?

Exactly how big was Basilosaurus?Basilosaurus is a type of whale; its name means "king lizard," and it is also known as Zeuglodon. It was an extinct ancient marine mammal and a close relative of modern whales, living from 39 million to 34 million years ago in the late Eocene. It was initially mistaken for the fossil of a giant marine reptile, so it was named "king lizard."

Exactly how big was Basilosaurus?

Basilosaurus had an average body length of 18 m, and it had a more slender body than modern whales. Paleontologists are very interested in its degenerated, short hind limbs, because they can prove that modern whales originally evolved from terrestrial mammals. When it was first discovered, it was even mistaken for some kind of sea snake. Current scientific research has found that its natural enemy may have been sharks.

What food did Basilosaurus eat?

Basilosaurus was a giant whale that lived from 40 to 34 million years ago, and it fed by preying on other whales. Its huge size meant it needed a large amount of food to sustain its body. Its short, sharp teeth were used to capture sharks and other prey. Fish, sharks, squid, sea turtles and other marine mammals were all on its menu, and it used keen eyesight and hearing to find and catch prey.

Morphological characteristics of Basilosaurus

1. Body size: The most obvious feature of Basilosaurus was its very slender body. Females were about 15 m long, and males were about 18 m long. It also had a more elongated body than modern whales, as well as degenerated, short hind limbs. When it was first discovered, it was even mistaken for some kind of sea snake.

2. Tail fluke: The bones in the tail of Basilosaurus show that it very likely had a small tail fluke, though it may only have helped with vertical movement. Most reconstructions show Basilosaurus with a small dorsal fin presumed to be similar to that of baleen whales, while other reconstructions show Basilosaurus with only a hump on its back.

3. Hind limbs: Perhaps the most famous part of Basilosaurus's body structure was its 0.6 m long hind limbs. There is no doubt that they could not help with movement. These degenerated hind limbs may only have been used to hold two Basilosaurus individuals in different positions together. The hind limbs resemble the degenerated hind limbs that snakes use to guide mating, so Basilosaurus may have been the same.

4. Spine: Basilosaurus had slender, hollow vertebrae that also seem to have been filled with fluid, giving it an unusual way of moving compared with other marine mammals. Having thoracic, lumbar, sacral and caudal vertebrae of the same size suggests that it could basically move only horizontally at the ocean surface, while most other marine mammals can move in three dimensions. Judging from its weak axial muscle tissue and thick limb bones, it is thought to have been unable to swim and dive continuously for long periods, and it is also thought to have had no ability to move on land.

5. Head: The head of Basilosaurus did not have a melon like that of modern toothed whales, and its brain was also relatively small. It did not have the social abilities of modern whales. It was once thought to have some soft shells, but this seems to have been the result of mistaking sea turtle shells for them. Some cryptozoologists believe that Basilosaurus or a more evolved relative may still be alive.