The Ancient Serpent
Basilosaurus, despite its name which means “king lizard,” was not a lizard at all but a gigantic ancient whale that lived around 40-34 million years ago during the Eocene epoch.
| Meaning | King lizard [Basilo-saurus] |
| Pronunciation | BAZ-il-oh-sore-us |
| When: | Eocene (about 41–34 million years ago) |
| Where: | North America, Africa North America, Africa, and other regions |
| What: | Cetacean Mammal (ancient whale) |
| Weight: | Estimated around 15–20 metric tons |
| Length: | Approximately 15–20 meters (50–66 feet) |
| Diet: | Carnivorous (ate fish and other marine life) |
| Discovered: | First described by Richard Harlan in 1834 |
It was a fearsome predator of the seas, growing up to 18-21 meters (59-69 feet) in length.
Basilosaurus had a long, slender body with sharp teeth suited for hunting fish and other marine creatures.
Despite its predatory nature, Basilosaurus was not closely related to modern whales but belonged to a group known as archaeocetes, early ancestors of today’s cetaceans.
Fossils of Basilosaurus have been found in North Africa and the southeastern United States, revealing important details about the evolution of whales from land-dwelling ancestors to fully aquatic creatures.