Where was the holotype fossil specimen of Livyatan melvillei discovered in 2008?
Answer
The Pisco Formation of Peru
The foundational evidence for estimating the size of Livyatan melvillei comes from the holotype fossil specimen. This crucial fossil material, which included a partially preserved skull, was originally found in 2008. The specific geological location cited for this important discovery is the Pisco Formation, situated in Peru. Since only limited fossil evidence, such as this skull and several teeth, has been recovered, this specific specimen serves as the primary anchor point for all subsequent size extrapolations, particularly concerning the 3-meter skull length used in initial calculations.
Related Questions
Where was the holotype fossil specimen of Livyatan melvillei discovered in 2008?What was the approximate measured length of the Livyatan melvillei holotype skull?Scaling against which extinct raptorial sperm whale yields the maximum estimated length for Livyatan?What is the approximate weight estimate corresponding to the upper-end 17.5-meter length for Livyatan?What unique feature defines the recovered teeth of Livyatan melvillei, excluding tusks?What was the calculated height of the largest Livyatan teeth recovered from the left lower jaw of the holotype specimen?How did the implied hunting strategy of Livyatan differ from its modern descendant, the sperm whale?What functional capability does the deep and wide supracranial basin of the Livyatan skull suggest?In size comparison with Otodus megalodon, how did Livyatan compare ecologically?Why is defining the absolute maximum size of Livyatan melvillei inherently statistical rather than definitive?What did the presence of a Livyatan tooth in California suggest about the genus's historical geographical range?