Livyatan is an extinct genus of macroraptorial sperm whale containing one species
Livyatan is an extinct genus of macroraptorial sperm whale containing one species: L. melvillei. The genus name was inspired by the biblical sea monster Leviathan, and the species name by Herman Melville, the author of the famous novel Moby-Dick about a white bull sperm whale.
It is mainly known from the Pisco Formation of Peru during the Tortonian stage of the Miocene epoch, about 9.9–8.9 million years ago- however, isolated teeth from other locations such as Chile, Argentina, South Africa, and Australia implies that either it or a close relative survived into the Pliocene, around 5 mya, and was present throughout the Southern Hemisphere.
Livyatan's total length has been estimated to be about 13.5–17.5 m (44–57 ft), similar to the modern sperm whale, making it one of the largest predators to have ever existed. However, since only the skull of Livyatan is known, the ratio of the skull compared to the rest of the body length is unknown, and so its total body length is unclear.
The teeth of Livyatan measured 36.2 cm (1.2 ft), and are the largest biting teeth of any known animal, excluding tusks.
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