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An almost perfectly preserved whale skeleton has been discovered in Thailand that is believed to be between 3,000 and 5,000 years old.
The bones were found in early November about 12 km (7.5 miles) off the coast just west of Bangkok.
The 12 m (39 ft) long skeleton is thought to be that of a Bryde whale.
Experts hope the discovery will provide “a window into the past”, especially for sea-level and biodiversity research.
The partially fossilized bones are “a rare find,” mammal researcher Marcus Chua of the National University of Singapore told the BBC.
“There are few whale sub fossils in Asia,” he said, and fewer still are “in such good condition.”
Images shared by Thailand’s environment minister Varawut Silpa-archa show the bones apparently almost entirely intact.
According to the politician, more than 80% of the skeleton has been recovered so far, including vertebrae, ribs, fins and one shoulder blade.
The skeleton head alone is estimated to be about 3m long.
Mr. Chua says the discovery will allow researchers to find out more about the particular species in the past, if there were any differences from Bryde’s whales of today.
The skeleton will also provide information on “paleobiological and geological conditions at that time, including sea level estimation, sediment types and contemporary biological communities at that time”.
“So this discovery provides a window into the past once the skeleton has been dated,” says Mr. Chua.
The bones have yet to be carbon dated to determine their exact age, with the results expected for December.
The Gulf of Thailand has an interesting history over the past 10,000 years, the biologist points out, with sea levels possibly up to 4m higher than today and active tectonic activity.
The skeleton was found off the current coast at Samut Sakhon.
Bryde’s whales, which live all over the world in warm temperate and tropical waters, are still found in the waters around Thailand today.
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