Whale bones

Whale bones are world objects found in Fallout 76.
==Background==
The bones superficially resemble the skeletal remains of a whale.
Whale bones are not typically found at all in the Appalachian region, as whales only evolved roughly 50 million years ago, yet the region of West Virginia has not had conditions favorable to the existence of whales (and their subsequent fossilization deep underground) for many tens of millions of years longer than that. Fossils as a whole are not generally found here, as the Appalachian mountains largely began forming and were quite mature before life capable of being fossilized ever existed. 
One skeleton is found fully articulated and on display within the Shark Den of the Aquarium of the Atlantic, indicating this type of remains belonged to a long-extinct species, rather than a newer, post-War creature. 
Further complicating matters, some of these remains have been found very far beneath the surface. 
=== Cult of the Mothman ===
These bones can be seen at nearly all cultists settlements in Appalachia. The bones can be seen naturally exposed at Big Maw, a site of cultist sacrifice. 
They commonly use the inverted skull as the head of a Mothman effigy, using candles or bioluminescent materials to simulate his glowing eyes. They may use the large mandible bones to fashion wings of bone. Each effigy is unique. Additionally, the skulls are commonly placed above gates, such as those at Point Pleasant, Ingram Mansion, and Moth-home. They may also be seen loose among ritual spaces, such as the bonfires south of Watoga. 
The spines of these creatures are also used in similar ways. A cage made of large ribcages is affixed to the church in Kanawha. One is seen in the ceiling of the tunnel leading to the lair of the Interloper, along with a small portion of the skull. Another spine and ribcage acts as a sort of headboard for furniture at Blake's Offering. The spines also feature heavily into the spires common to cultist architecture. 
One of the Enlightened pyres at Point Pleasant is built beneath a large effigy featuring the mysterious bones, apparently indicating that this practice is shared by both sects. 
==Locations==
* On the cliff north of and above the Red Rocket Mega Stop - Attached to a rock wall with some cracked deathclaw eggs underneath it.
* At the Big Maw - Underwater in the small pond at the bottom, between the two cultist effigies.
* West of the Pleasant Valley Station - Next to a rock wall, north of the railroad tracks.
* In the nuke crater west of state route 107, south of The Freak Show - buried in a crater wall.
* Outside Lucky Hole Mine - laid out above the mine entrance on the roof of the quonset hut.
* Within Lucky Hole Mine - embedded in the ceiling of the tunnel leading to the chamber of the Interloper.
* Crater - laid out above a section of the space station, above the merchant.
* Grahm's Meat-Cook
* Mysterious Digsite
* Bonfire south of Watoga
* Aquarium of the Atlantic
==Appearances==
Whale bones appear . Their design is reused in Fallout: Wasteland Warfare for the "open whale" and "closed whale" terrain pieces.
==Gallery==
76 WL Crater whale bones.png
FO76 Whale bones Lucky Hole Mine ext.png|Lucky Hole Mine
FO76 Whale bones nuke crater.png|Nuke crater near route 107
FO76 Whale bones Pleasant Valley Station.png|Pleasant Valley Station
FO76 Whale bones Red Rocket megastop.png|North of Red Rocket Mega Stop
FO76 Whale skeleton 202211.png|Buried in the dried lakebed within the Toxic Valley
FOWW,WhaleOpenTerrain.webp|"Open" bones in Fallout: Wasteland Warfare
FOWW,WhaleClosedTerrain.webp|"Closed" bones variant
File:Interloper bones.jpeg|In Lucky Holy Mine, the tunnel leading to the Interloper's chamber
Category:Fallout 76 miscellaneous world objects
Category:Fallout: Wasteland Warfare terrain