New species of sperm whale identified from fossils found in Gunma

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorScientists in Japan have identified a new species of sperm whale from fossils found in Gunma. Lola Cruz is on location this morning.

2. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorLola, where are you standing?

3. 

   Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentI'm standing outside the Gunma Museum of Natural History in Tomioka, where the fossils are on display, including a nearly complete skeleton of a calf, three to four meters long, from fifteen and a half million years ago.

4. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorFifteen and a half million years. What's the whale called?

5. 

   Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentMiophyseter gunmaensis. It has more teeth than a modern sperm whale, so it bit and sucked, while today's whales dive deep and only suck.

6. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorMiophyseter gunmaensis. Bit and sucked. And who found it, Lola, since somebody's name is on it already?

7. 

   Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentLocal fossil enthusiasts, between 1994 and 2011, along tributaries of the Tone River in Tomioka and Annaka.

8. 

   Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentI found one of them this morning, and he'll talk.

9. GS

   Gen SakamotoGen Sakamoto, retired. I dug up the first bones in ninety-four. I kept them in the garage for years. My wife wanted the garage back.

10. 

    Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentAnd the study came out in August, in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Did anyone call you?

11. GS

    Gen SakamotoYes, a nice letter. My wife got the garage back and I got the letter.

12. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSeventeen years of digging, and the museum display runs through December thirteenth.

13. 

    Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentSeventeen years in the riverbed, Hank, and the professionals took it from the garage to the journal without a phone call.

14. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe whale has had a name for two months. The man who found it is still just Gen. Chip, what's happening across America?