The Leviathan of the Seas
Livyatan was an enormous predatory whale that lived approximately 12-13 million years ago during the Miocene epoch.
| Meaning | Named after Leviathan from the Bible |
| Pronunciation | LIV-ee-ah-tan |
| When: | Miocene (about 9–8 million years ago) |
| Where: | South America (Peru) |
| What: | Cetacean Mammal (extinct macroraptorial sperm whale) |
| Weight: | Estimated around 50 metric tons |
| Length: | Approximately 13–18 meters (43–59 feet) |
| Diet: | Carnivorous (ate large marine mammals and other large prey) |
| Discovered: | First described by Klaas Post and colleagues in 2010 |
Named after the Biblical sea monster Leviathan, it is believed to have been one of the largest predators to ever swim in the oceans.
Livyatan had a robust skull with massive teeth that could reach up to 36 centimeters (14 inches) in length, resembling those of modern sperm whales but much larger.
It likely hunted large marine mammals and other prey in the seas that covered what is now Peru.