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Prehistoric Life

How long was Basilosaurus cetoides?

An adult Basilosaurus cetoides had a total length of about 18 m (59 ft).

What is measured: adult, total body length

Basilosaurus cetoides (18 m) drawn to scale beside a city bus (12 m) and the Statue of Liberty (93 m)
Drawn to scale, from left to right: City bus (12 m), Basilosaurus cetoides (18 m) and Statue of Liberty (93 m).

Compare

How big is that, really?

  • A little shorter than a tennis court
  • A little longer than a city bus
  • About 2 would fit end to end along an Olympic swimming pool
  • As long as about 3 20-foot shipping containers end to end
  • About 5 would fit end to end along a football (soccer) pitch

Learn

Facts about Basilosaurus cetoides

Despite its name, Basilosaurus was an ancient whale; its tiny hind limbs were no longer useful for walking.

Source: Smithsonian Ocean, Basilosaurus; Encyclopaedia Britannica, Basilosaurus

Prehistoric Life

NameSizeCompared with Basilosaurus cetoides
Mapusaurus roseae12.2 m (40 ft)0.68×
Brachiosaurus altithorax13 m (43 ft)0.72×
Titanoboa cerrejonensis13 m (43 ft)0.72×
Livyatan melvillei13.5 m (44 ft)0.75×
Giraffatitan brancai13.5 m (44 ft)0.75×
Basilosaurus cetoides18 m (59 ft)this page
Sauroposeidon proteles18 m (59 ft)same size
Mamenchisaurus hochuanensis22 m (72 ft)1.2×
Apatosaurus louisae22 m (72 ft)1.2×
Dreadnoughtus schrani26 m (85 ft)1.4×

Test your sense of scale

Which is bigger: Basilosaurus cetoides or Mamenchisaurus hochuanensis?

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