5 Million-Year-Old Whale Graveyard Found Deep in Ocean

An extraordinary whale graveyard, estimated to be 5 million years old, has been uncovered in the Indian Ocean at a depth of 23,000 feet. This massive underwater site spans 745 miles and has been found to harbor numerous species previously unknown to science, including various types of jellyfish, tubeworms, brittle stars, sea cucumbers, squat lobsters, and saltwater clams.

The research team, comprising scientists from Italy, China, and New Zealand, expressed astonishment at the scale and age of the discovery. Among the finds are 485 whale fossil sites and active whale falls, collected during 32 dives into the abyss. The skeletons of extinct whales have also been recovered, including a notable 16-foot-long Antarctic minke whale carcass. One new species, Pterocetus diamantinae, has been named after the location.

Scientists mapped this extensive whale necropolis for the first time in 2023. The exact reason for such a high concentration of whale remains in this specific location remains unknown, though researchers speculate that the seabed's peculiar V shape might have funneled carcasses into the area. Studying such sites is crucial for understanding how life adapts to extreme deep-sea conditions.