page_title: Livyatan
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: Livyatan / Description
caption_attribution_description: English: Reconstruction and comparison of the prehistoric whales Livyatan melvillei and Piscotherium, from Middle Miocene Peru.
context_page_description: Livyatan is an extinct genus of 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 book 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. It was a member of a group of hyper-predatory macroraptorial sperm whales and was likely an apex predator, preying on whales, seals, and so forth. Characteristic of raptorial sperm whales, Livyatan had functional, enamel-coated teeth on the upper and lower jaws, as well as several adaptations for hunting large prey.
  Livyatan's total length has been estimated to be about 13.5–17.5 m, similar to the modern sperm whale, making it one of the largest predators to have ever existed.
context_section_description: 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 total length of adult Livyatan is estimated to have been about 13.5 m (44 ft) when using the modern sperm whale for scaling, and 16.2–17.5 m (53–57 ft) when using the raptorial Zygophyseter for scaling; scaling achieved by measuring the head-to-body ratios. In comparison, the modern sperm whale measures on average 11 to 16 m (36 to 52 ft). It has been estimated to weigh 57 tonnes (62.8 short tons) based on the length estimate of 17.5 m (57 ft). The large size was probably an anti-predator adaptation, and allowed it to feed on larger prey. Livyatan is the largest fossil sperm whale discovered, and was also one of the biggest-known predators, having the largest bite of any tetrapod.
caption: Reconstruction of Livyatan (left) next to Cetotherium (right)
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