A larger blue whale: Balaenoptera sibbaldina

Scientific name: – Balaenoptera sibbaldina

the largest size of any marine animal, maybe the largest size of any animal ever: the extant blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), likely rivaled by the . . . species Balaenoptera sibbaldina from the Pliocene epoch.

 Van Beneden (1880, p. 15) established this species on an isolated petrosal and some vertebrae from different parts of the axial skeleton. Later, in his monograph Van Beneden (1882) listed and illustrated a partial occipital shield (of a juvenile individual), a right petrosal, an isolated posterior process of the petrotympanic, a partial rib, and isolated thoracic, lumbar, and caudal vertebrae. Because no holotype was designated and the syntypes are almost certainly from different individuals, it is not possible to unambiguously diagnose this taxon. Van Beneden (1880, 1882) aligned (presumably based on size) this fossil species with the extant blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus, known to Van Beneden as Balaenoptera sibbaldus), emphasizing that relationship with a similar specific name. Van Beneden emphasized that he was naming the fossil taxon sibbaldina presumably referring to the similar large size of the fossil and living blue whale.

This “greater ancestor” I am afraid has been sitting right under my nose. Everyone’s “debunk list” starts with the Blue whale. That will no longer be the case. As common practice I receive the reward of having my “missing links” to my theory filled, which is always the case, other lesser theories . . . we are still waiting after 150 years.

• Let me cover a few phrases in the text: “the largest size of any marine animal,” Balaenoptera sibbaldina (not the species (Balaenoptera musculus).
• “the largest size of any animal ever,” (not the species (Balaenoptera musculus).
• “the extant blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), likely rivaled by the . . . species Balaenoptera sibbaldina ” {compete with, or surpass}
• “aligned (presumably based on size) this fossil species with the extant blue whale” {similarity of size)
• “Van Beneden emphasized that he was naming the fossil taxon sibbaldina presumably referring to the similar large size of the fossil and living blue whale. {again similar in size}
• (of a juvenile individual) this is the key. “similar large size” and of a “juvenile individual” along with phrases like “the largest of any animal ever” knocks todays Blue whale off its throne.

<clears throat for announcement> . . . AHEM. . .The Blue whale is NOT the largest animal that ever lived, and not the largest whale.

~Chris L Lesley/Greater Ancestors World Museum

(Owen, 1844) fide Lydekker (1887a,b).

Locality : Antwerp, Belgium.

: Kattendijk and Lillo formations (Sable Superieur d’Anvers).

: lower Pliocene (Zanclian Stage).

• P. J. Van Beneden 1882
• Van Beneden, 1880, pp. 14–15. Balaenoptera sibbaldina
• Van Beneden, 1882, pp. 63–65, plates 49–51.
• (Owen, 1844) fide Lydekker (1887a,b).

http://vestnikgnnagu.ucoz.ru/_ld/0/3_demere_2005.pdf

When searching the Balaenoptera sibbaldina the Paleontological online database misdirects you to another species:Balaenoptera Lacepede 1804 (rorqual) . . .:/ curious.