Seven Million Year Old Fossil Whale From Virginia

[DD1991]

Just scrambled upon an article about a seven-year old fossil whale found in Virginia in April of this year........

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-08-24/local/41444120_1_whale-fossil-ribs-and-vertebrae-7-million-years

Given the size and age of the whale mentioned in the article (60 feet in length, 7 mya), we'll see if it came from the St Marys Formation or the Eastover Formation, as the age of the fossil falls in the reliable age estimate of both the St Marys and Eastover (7-11 million years). As it stands, Cephalotropis and "Cetotherium" megalophysum are the only valid species of large-bodied whale described from the St Marys, and no large whale has yet been described from the Eastover, so the fossil from Virginia could be one of those species, or a new species.

[shark57]

It was from the Eastover. Here is the link to the story on the excavation by the VMNH:

http://vmnhpaleontology.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/the-yorktown-whale/

Edited September 7, 2013 by shark57

[DD1991]

It was from the Eastover. Here is the link to the story on the excavation by the VMNH:

http://vmnhpaleontology.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/the-yorktown-whale/

Thanks. This will help with determining if any of the known fossil rorquals may have existed in the Eastover, like Parabalenoptera.

[Regg Cato]

good find DD1991

the fossil from Virginia could be one of those species, or a new species.

can't go wrong with that identification