A species of whale the size of a human has been discovered.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - A fossil found in Australia reveals the existence of a prehistoric whale species that was only about the size of a human.

The image depicts the newly discovered whale species (Photo: Victory Museum).

Scientists have just announced a unique discovery after successfully excavating the fossil of Janjucetus dullardi, an ancient whale species, off the southeastern coast of Australia.

The most surprising thing was its modest size, as this ancient whale species was only about 2 meters long, roughly the same length as an adult human.

Compared to the giant whales of today that can grow to tens of meters in length, J. dullardi is truly proof that whales weren't always the "giants of the ocean".

This species lived approximately 26 million years ago in the southern seas of mainland Australia. Though small and somewhat cute, J. dullardi was undoubtedly a formidable predator, dominating the waters where it lived.

They possessed large eyes and sharp, knife-like teeth, leading paleontologist Ruairidh Duncan to describe them as "a whale with the appearance of a miniature shark."

The size comparison of the whale J. dullardi to a modern fin whale and a human (Image: Science Alert).

This also marks the first time in Australia that fossils belonging to the genus Mammaliaodontid, an extinct branch of ancient baleen whales, have been found with their teeth and inner ears completely preserved.

According to scientists, the structure of J. dullardi's inner ears and teeth provides insight into its underwater sensing and navigation abilities, revealing differences from modern whales.

Despite being classified as a baleen whale, J. dullardi still possessed teeth instead of baleen plates for filtering plankton. This suggests they were an important intermediate link in evolution, helping to explain why the Mammaliaodontid group became extinct while other whale species continued to thrive.

Experts also emphasize that giant whales only began to grow to such large sizes about 5.3 million years ago, after smaller species like J. dullardi disappeared.

This discovery therefore not only provides valuable fossil data, but also adds an important piece to the complex evolutionary story of whales.

"The ancient waters around Victoria may have once been the cradle of some of the most extraordinary whale species in history, and we are only just beginning the journey of unraveling their mysteries," asserts paleontologist Erich Fitzgerald from the Victoria Museum.

"This particular fossil has opened a new door, helping us to better understand how ancient whales evolved, changed their bodies, and adapted to the ocean."

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/phat-hien-loai-ca-voi-co-kich-thuoc-bang-con-nguoi-20250819080831316.htm