Chinese Expedition Finds World's Largest Whale Graveyard off Australia

Chinese scientists have discovered the world's largest whale graveyard in international waters of the Indian Ocean off the coast of Australia ^[1].

The site is scientifically significant because it provides unprecedented insight into marine-fossil assemblages and supports a community of deep-sea organisms ^[1], ^[3].

Using a submersible, the expedition documented 476 cetacean fossils ^[1]. The site also contains five whales that are currently actively decomposing ^[1]. Among the findings is a newly identified extinct species that dates back approximately five million years ^[1]. Some reports indicate the oldest fossils at the site may reach ages up to 5.3 million years ^[2].

Marine biologist Asha De Vos said the find is important in understanding the history of these mammals ^[1]. The accumulation of remains in one location allows researchers to study how cetaceans died and how their remains interacted with the seafloor over geological time—a process that typically happens in more isolated instances.

Researchers observed the graveyard in the sub-bottom ocean, where the concentration of bones is highest ^[3]. The discovery of hundreds of whale fossils in a single area suggests the location may have been a natural trap or a preferred migratory endpoint for millions of years ^[2], ^[4].

The expedition's data will help scientists map the evolution of whales and the environmental conditions of the Indian Ocean during the Pliocene epoch. By analyzing the new extinct species, the team can better understand the biodiversity of ancient oceans and the factors that led to the species' disappearance ^[1].