Prehistoric whale weighed in at up to 340 tonnes – making it heaviest creature ever, scientists say

P. colossus, which lived 39 million years ago, may have been three times larger than blue whale

A ‘Nature’ magazine illustration of Perucetus colossus, which scientists say lived 39 million years ago. Image: PA

Nilima Marshall

The heaviest animal that ever lived may be an ancient whale species which swam in the oceans around 39 million years ago, scientists believe.

Researchers analysed the remains of a partial skeleton – featuring 13 vertebrae, four ribs and one hip bone – that was uncovered 13 years ago in the Ica desert on the southern coast of Peru.