With an estimated weight of 412.3 pounds (187 kilograms) and a length of 8.2 feet (2.5 meters), this newly documented species is roughly the size of a modern-day bottlenose dolphin.

Named Tutcetus rayanensis, this creature belonged to the extinct basilosauridae family, which was one of the earliest groups to become fully aquatic. As revealed in a study published in Communications Biology on Thursday, this diminutive specimen is considerably older than other basilosaurids from the Eocene Epoch.

Stan's tale began as a young boy enamoured with the sea, diving into its depths with nothing but a spear in hand. His naval service during World War II further cultivated this connection. Post-war, his journey took a serendipitous turn when he dived into a glacial pond in Maine, a modest start to an illustrious career that would see him traverse the world's oceans.