Live Feeds
● LIVE Updated 1h ago · 24 sources tracked

When a dead whale sinks to the seafloor, its 'whale fall' becomes an oasis feeding deep-sea life for decades — up to 190 species crowding a single skeleton, with bone-eating worms gnawing the bones for as long as a decade

Researchers discovered a whale graveyard in the southeastern Indian Ocean's Diamantina Zone. The site contains fossils and skeletons dating back 5.3 million years. These whale falls create deep-sea oases that support diverse marine life.

RSS Source map (23)

What changed

New data identifies the site as a 750-mile long necropolis in the Diamantina Zone.

Live updates

  1. Indian Ocean Whale Necropolis Identified as Major Deep-Sea Ecosystem

    Researchers discovered a whale graveyard in the southeastern Indian Ocean's Diamantina Zone. The site contains fossils and skeletons dating back 5.3 million years. These whale falls create deep-sea oases that support diverse marine life.

    What's confirmed:

    • A whale graveyard in the Indian Ocean contains fossils dating back 5.3 million years.
    • The site is located in the southeastern Indian Ocean within the Diamantina Zone.
    • A single whale skeleton on the seafloor can host up to 190 species of macroscopic bottom-dwelling animals.
    • A team of Chinese, Italian, and New Zealand researchers published these findings in Nature on June 10.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • The whale cemetery extends for 750 miles.
    • The site contains nearly 500 skeletons.
    • This may be the world's oldest and largest whale graveyard.
    confidence 90%

  2. Chinese Scientists Find World's Largest Whale Graveyard in Indian Ocean

    Researchers discovered a massive collection of whale remains in an Indian Ocean trench. The site contains nearly 500 skeletons and fossils dating back 5.3 million years. This deep-sea ecosystem supports various marine life, including species unknown to science.

    What's confirmed:

    • Chinese scientists discovered the world's largest whale graveyard in an Indian Ocean trench.
    • The site contains nearly 500 skeletons and fossils dating back 5.3 million years.
    • A whale fall can host up to 190 species of macroscopic bottom-dwelling animals on a single skeleton.
    • Bone-eating worms can gnaw whale bones for as long as a decade.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • The graveyard may be an evolutionary hotspot where new species emerge.
    • A single dead whale transforms the ocean floor into an ecosystem for 100 years sustaining over 400 unique species.
    confidence 90%