Acrophyseter
Habitat: Pacific Ocean
Historical Epoch: Late Miocene (6 million years ago)
Size and Weight: About 12 feet long and half a ton
Diet: Fish, whales and birds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Moderate size; long, pointed snout
About Acrophyseter: You can gauge the full measure of the prehistoric sperm whale Acrophyseter by its full name: Acrophyseter deinodon, which translates roughly as "pointy-snouted sperm whale with terrible teeth" ("terrible" in this context meaning scary, not rotten). This "killer sperm whale," as it's sometimes called, possessed a long, pointed snout studded with sharp teeth, making it look a bit like a cross between a cetacean and a shark. Unlike modern sperm whales, which feed mostly on squids and fish, Acrophyseter seems to have pursued a more varied diet, including sharks, seals, penguins and even other prehistoric whales. As you can guess from its name, Acrophyseter was closely related to another sperm whale ancestor, Brygmophyseter.
Historical Epoch: Late Miocene (6 million years ago)
Size and Weight: About 12 feet long and half a ton
Diet: Fish, whales and birds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Moderate size; long, pointed snout
About Acrophyseter: You can gauge the full measure of the prehistoric sperm whale Acrophyseter by its full name: Acrophyseter deinodon, which translates roughly as "pointy-snouted sperm whale with terrible teeth" ("terrible" in this context meaning scary, not rotten). This "killer sperm whale," as it's sometimes called, possessed a long, pointed snout studded with sharp teeth, making it look a bit like a cross between a cetacean and a shark. Unlike modern sperm whales, which feed mostly on squids and fish, Acrophyseter seems to have pursued a more varied diet, including sharks, seals, penguins and even other prehistoric whales. As you can guess from its name, Acrophyseter was closely related to another sperm whale ancestor, Brygmophyseter.
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