translated from Spanish: They find in Thailand the almost intact skeleton of a whale at least 3,000 years ago

The bones were found in early November about 12 kilometers off the coast, west of Bangkok.

The 12 m long skeleton is thought to be that of a Bryde whale.

Experts hope that the finding will offer “a window into the past”, especially for research on sea levels and biodiversity.
The partially fossilized remains are “a rare find,” mammal researcher Marcus Chua of the National University of Singapore told the BBC.

“There are few whale submachine guns in Asia,” he added, and even fewer are “in such good conditions.”

Images shared by Thailand’s Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa show seemingly almost intact bones.

The skeleton was found 12 km off the coast of Thailand

According to the official, more than 80% of the skeleton has so far recovered, including vertebrae, ribs, fins and an shoulder blade.

It is estimated that only the head of the skeleton is about 3 m long.

“Window to the past”

Chua says the discovery will allow researchers to find out more about this particular species in the past and know if there were differences with Today’s Bryde whales.

The skeleton will also provide information on “paleobiological and geological conditions at the time, including sea level estimation, sediment types and contemporary biological communities at the time.”

“So this find will provide a window into the past, once the skeleton is dated“, says Chua.

The bones have not yet been subjected to carbon dating to determine their exact age, and the results are expected to be ready in December.

Bryde whales can still be found in the waters surrounding Thailand today

In the last 10,000 years, the Gulf of Thailand has an interesting history, notes the biologist, with sea levels possibly up to 4 m. higher than today and with active tectonic activity.

The skeleton was discovered off the coast of Samut Sakhon.

Today the whales of Bryde, who live all over the world in tropical waters and warm temperate, are still in the waters surrounding Thailand.

Original source in Spanish