Ica: Peruvian paleontologists have found a sperm whale fossil seven million years ago

A fossil skull with the jaws of a prehistoric sperm whale was found in the Ocucaje (Ica) desert, has survived intact for seven million years and is the best of its kind, according to Peruvian paleontologist Aldo Benítez Palomino.

In an interview program News extensionAldo Benitez Palomino explained that the discovery sperm whale It was held in 2020 but will only be on display at the National Museum of Natural History of the National University of the Mayor of San Marcos.

“In 2020, our field paleontologist Mario Urbina discovered several isolated bones emerging from the surface in the area ocucaje, and on various expeditions we were going to dig up this material to find out what it was. We had no idea what it was. We have to stabilize the material, make a plaster shell and bring it here to Lima so that it can be cleaned and put on display as it is now. It is a very long process because the stone is removed from these fossilized bones with very fine instruments,” he said.

Aldo Benitez clarified that seven million years ago there was an “unprecedented diversity” sperm whales on the current Peruvian coast.

“The first thing we saw were the teeth, the smile of the animal, as soon as we saw the smile of the animal, we went crazy because this animal has giant carnassial teeth,” said the paleontologist, who is studying in Switzerland.

sperm whale with a “big nose”

During the presentation of the paleontological find, it was reported that the fossil, approximately 130 meters long, corresponds to an adult, characterized by the presence of functional teeth in the upper and lower jaws. It is estimated that the total length of the animal is between 5 and 5.5 meters, considered a medium-sized predator.

The researchers point out that, unlike other sperm whales Predominantly feeding on squid or octopus, “this animal will consume larger prey such as ocean fish, penguins, and even small marine mammals.”

He sperm whale macroraptor ocucaje it had “a large nose, specialized in emitting very powerful sound waves, which was used for stunning and hunting prey”.

Only 10 Peruvian paleontologists

Aldo Benítez confirmed that the paleontology collection at the UNMSM National Museum of Natural History has only been taking shape over the past 20 years.

“​This is one of the newest sciences here in the country. We paleontologists fall short of the 10 people who study in Peru. I’m second generation and I think I’m the only one of my generation currently in graduate school. “We have a very small number of paleontologists. Foreign scientists have been coming to the country for a long time and for a long time they took fossils from our country abroad, recently we are trying to create a collection for our country, in our country and leading Peruvian scientists,” he said.

Paleontologist regrets low funding for researchers National Museum of Natural History UNMSM​and there is little space in the room for exhibiting the discovered exhibits.

“The lab we have is already full of fossils. We have an extra small room in which we try to fit all the existing material, but every year we publish four to five species new to science that come from our country,” he said.

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Espacio Vital: Dr. Helard Manrique, endocrinologist at the Delgado-Auna Clinic, explained that cortisol is a famous stress hormone that is produced in the adrenal glands, located above the kidneys, and acts as a signal that goes to the brain and all organs. . He said that it works harmoniously at the level of the body and is systematically rhythmic (in the brain, heart, intestines, etc.). He also pointed out that the metabolism depends on cortisol: it regulates the rhythm of the blood, as well as the sleep cycle. The specialist said that cortisol drops at night and rises in the morning. He clarified that when cortisol levels are high, Cushing’s syndrome occurs, and when cortisol levels are low, Addison’s disease occurs.

Fernando Carvallo selects information and shares his vision of national and international news. subscribe to our Las cosas newsletter, as they should be reading your daily columns.