Name: This Massive Skeleton Belongs to an Ancient Whale
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Egypt’s Sahara desert is home to around 600 Basilosaurus fossils. Basilosaurus means “king lizard,” but this creature was actually ancient whale.

At first, scientists thought it was a gigantic marine reptile.

This Massive Skeleton Belongs to an Ancient Whale

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Egypt’s Sahara desert is home to around 600 Basilosaurus fossils. Basilosaurus means “king lizard,” but this creature was actually ancient whale.

At first, scientists thought it was a gigantic marine reptile.

Evolution

This Massive Skeleton Belongs to an Ancient WhalePublished: May 20, 2025HESHAM SALLAM: This is one of the most complete skeletons that we find in Wadi al Hitan. In the middle of nowhere, you find a lot of really huge vertebrae lying up. The skull would be over there in that rock and the ribs on both sides. This is really a spectacular, huge animal that lived here in Wadi al Hitan 40 million years ago, the Basilosaurus.NARRATOR: Basilosaurus fossils have been discovered in many parts of the world, including around 600 here at Wadi al Hitan. This one has been laid out in the place it was found. When the first Basilosaurus was studied in 1834, experts were baffled.HESHAM SALLAM: When the early scientists found this, they thought it's belonged to a kind of gigantic marine reptile, and this is why they give it name Basilosaurus, which means king lizard.NARRATOR: But the skull contains a clue to Basilosaurus's true identity.HESHAM SALLAM: This is the skull upside down, and you can see all the teeth is sticking up. And actually, they have incisors, canine, premolars, and molar. Really like our teeth, which is actually a really good indication for this is not a marine reptile. This is actually mammal. So, Basilosaurus, the King Lizard, it's actually ancient whale.NARRATOR: 40 million years ago, Basilosaurus was the apex predator of its day. It could grow up to 60 feet long, the length of a bowling alley, and weigh more than seven tons. Powerful jaws filled with sharp teeth made it a killing machine. Scientists estimate its bite had a force of nearly two tons, enough to crush the bones of other whales. Basilosaurus was a prehistoric king of beasts.

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