An almost perfectly preserved whale skeleton present in Thailand. It is estimated to be 3,000 or 5,000 years old.
The bones were present in early November. The fossils were found off the coast, about 12 km (7.5 miles) offshore, west of Bangkok. The whale is 12 meters long and is believed to be the skeleton of a Bryde’s whale.
A BBC report on Friday, November 28, said experts hope the findings will provide an image of the past when it comes to sea level and biodiversity research.
“This bone, which has partially changed into phosphorus, is a rare find,” said mammal researcher Marcus Chua of the National University of Singapore.
“There are few subfossil whales in Asia,” he said. He also said that even just a few fossils are in good condition.
A photograph shared by Thailand’s Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa shows the bones seem like completely intact. According to the politician, over 80% of the skeletons have been found today, including ribs, fins and a shoulder blade. The skeleton’s head was probably about 3 meters long.
Chua scientists say this discovery allows scientists to learn more about certain species prior to now and see if there are differences from the present Bryde’s whale.
Living in tropical waters
Skeletal discoveries may provide essential details about paleobiological and geological conditions on the time, in addition to sea level estimates akin to sediment types and contemporary biological communities.
“So these discoveries also open a window into the past, after which the framework was explored,” Chua said.
The bones have been carbon tested to find out their exact age, with results expected in December.
The Gulf of Thailand has an interesting history spanning the last 10,000 years. Biologists suggest that sea levels were probably as much as 4 meters higher than today and there was lively tectonic activity.
A skeleton was found at sea in Samut Sakhon.
Bryde’s whales, which live world wide in warm, tropical waters, can still be present in the waters around Thailand.
Source: BBC, News World Asia
