Primal Whales natuurhistorisch museum Rotterdam - Inside Roterdam

Primal Whales

Come meet the newest additions to the fossil family at the Natural History Museum. Loose bones of whales, mammoths and rhinos and nearly flawless primal whale skulls were found off the coast of Zeeland and have been primped and prepared to meet the public. Highlights of this exhibition include meticulously composed fossilised skulls of pointed muzzle dolphins, whales and the skull of the unique La Plata dolphin. 

Additionally, a composite fossil whale skeleton, a piece of shell from a leatherback turtle and teeth of the extinct shark Otodus megalodon will also be included in the exhibit. These fascinating fossils offer visitors the chance to explore creatures that lived in what is now the Western Scheldt 7.5 to 8 million years ago. 

These discoveries will certainly make you think twice the next time you go camping in Zeeland. 

→ Primal Whales from Zeeland: Top fossils from the Westerschelde on until 12 January 2020. Natural History Museum, Museumpark, Westzeedijk 345. Open Tues- Sun 11 AM – 5 PM. Hetnatuurhistorisch.nl

Photo caption:  Almost complete skull with lower jaws and cervical vertebrae (NMR 9991-12016) of a new, still unknown type of pointed muzzle dolphin with a length of approximately 4 to 5 metres, fished from the Westerschelde in December 2014. (photo and collection of the Natural History Museum Rotterdam)

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