Scientists unveil partial skeleton of massive ancient whale in Lima

Scientists unveil a partial skeleton of a newly discovered whale found in Peru that lived nearly 40 million years ago.

A total of 13 gigantic vertebrae -- one of which weighed nearly 200 kilograms were found at a site in a coastal desert of southern Peru, as well as four ribs and a hip bone.

The modern blue whale has long been considered the largest and heaviest animal ever, beating out all the giant dinosaurs of the distant past. But Perucetus colossus -- the colossal whale from Peru -- may have been even heavier, according to a study published in the journal Nature.Extrapolating from some massive bones found in the Peruvian desert, an international team of researchers estimated that the animal had an average body mass of 180 tonnes.

That would not take the heavyweight title by itself. The biggest blue whale ever recorded weighed 190 tonnes, according to Guinness World Records. But the researchers estimated the ancient whale's weight range was between 85 and 340 tonnes, meaning it could have been significantly larger.