Pingtung:A nearly complete fossil of a prehistoric whale, discovered on the Hengchun Peninsula in southern Taiwan, is set to be displayed for the first time at the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium in Pingtung County on November 1.

According to Focus Taiwan, the fossil was found in July 2025 by local fossil collector Lin Ching-wen during a routine search of the peninsula's western region. The excavation and recovery of the remains took four months of meticulous work, as reported by the museum in a statement.

The fossilized whale, measuring approximately 6 meters in length, has more than 80 percent of its skeleton preserved. The excavation yielded over 130 fossil specimens, including parts of the skull, the upper jaw, a complete lower jaw, vertebrae from the neck to the lower back, most of the ribs, and nearly an entire shoulder blade.

Researchers suggest that the whale may have been part of the right whale family, based on the bone structure. Some vertebrae still displayed growth plates that had not fully fused, indicating that the animal was likely a juvenile at the time of its death.

The whale is estimated to have lived around 100,000 years ago. This discovery marks the second large whale fossil found in the area in recent years, following a larger whale skeleton discovery in 2022. These findings provide significant insights into Taiwan's prehistoric marine environment, According to museum.

The museum also noted that the unique geography and complex geological history of the Hengchun Peninsula have contributed to a rich fossil record. Local collectors have discovered fossils of various plants, shellfish, crabs, sea urchins, and both land and marine animals, such as elephants, deer, and whales. These findings offer evidence of the area's transition from an ancient marine environment to dry land.