# Peru geologists strive to preserve whale cemetery

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peru-geologists-strive-to-preserve-whale-cemetery/627995>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [July 12, 2012, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peru-geologists-strive-to-preserve-whale-cemetery/627995 "2012-07-12T13:14:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peru-geologists-strive-to-preserve-whale-cemetery/627995/1 "2012-07-12T13:14:41Z")

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I love headlines. That one is whacky enough to draw you in. It realy is about what you’d expect, given a minute to ponder it:

> [@](#):
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> In arid southern Peru, geologists are fighting time and the elements to preserve a precious find: a vast whale cemetery dating back millions of years.
> 
> The fossilized remains of roughly 15 of the majestic marine mammals alive three to 20 million years ago are currently on view in the Ocucaje desert some 310 kilometers (190 miles) south of the capital Lima.
> 
> Once submerged but now situated some 30 kilometers from the shore, the area has been shaken by volcanic eruptions, killing off all life forms, according to experts from the country’s geology and mining institute Ingemmet who have been working for four years at the site, now threatened by erosion.

[http://news.yahoo.com/peru-geologists-strive-preserve-whale-cemetery-045320225.html](http://news.yahoo.com/peru-geologists-strive-preserve-whale-cemetery-045320225.html)

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peru-geologists-strive-to-preserve-whale-cemetery/627995/2 "2012-07-12T13:30:00Z")

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> [@](#):
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> The sperm whale is a prehistoric animal considered to be one of the largest known marine predators that had about 70 teeth of 36 centimeters each and fed on minke whales coming into the bay to mate

Now that’s just rude.

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**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peru-geologists-strive-to-preserve-whale-cemetery/627995/3 "2012-07-12T13:50:47Z")

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> [@](#):
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> sperm whale (Livyatan **melvillei** )

I like the name.

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peru-geologists-strive-to-preserve-whale-cemetery/627995/4 "2012-07-12T13:54:50Z")

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> [@Floater](#):
>
> I like the name.

A link from another thread says they wanted to name it Leviathan Melvillel, but Leviathan is a species name already taken by a bug or frog or something. 🙂