Chilean blob

The Chilean blob or Chilean monster (Spanish: Monstruo chileno)[1] was a large mass of tissue found on Pinuno Beach in Los Muermos, Chile in July 2003. It weighed 13 tonnes (14 tons) and measured 12 metres (39 ft) across.[2] The Chilean blob made headlines around the world because biologists were initially unable to identify it and were speculating that it was the remains of some species of giant octopus previously unknown to science.[2][3] The blob was the subject of a number of conspiracy theories.[4]

The Chilean Blob as it was found on Pinuno Beach in July 2003

In June 2004, although no cells remained in the blob,[5] fragments of the DNA found in the blob were found to match that of a sperm whale.[6][7] The blob was a large mass of adipose tissue, the partial remains of a dead sperm whale.[6][7] Scientists concluded that the whale had died several months prior and that its carcass had been eaten until only its tough collagen fibres remained.[8]

References
  1. "Hallan a extraña criatura gigante y peluda en una playa". Smart13 (in Spanish). November 28, 2022.
  2. "Chilean blob could be octopus". BBC News. 2003-07-03. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  3. "Giant blob baffles marine scientists". BBc News. 2003-07-02. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  4. Bromham, Lindell (2016). An Introduction to Molecular Evolution and Phylogenetics (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 25–26. ISBN 978-0198736363.
  5. Copley, Jon (2004-06-27). "Beach blob mystery solved at last". New Scientist. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  6. Pierce, Sidney K.; Massey, Steven E.; Curtis, Nicholas E.; Smith, Gerald N.; Olavarría, Carlos; Maugel, Timothy K. (June 2004). "Microscopic, Biochemical, and Molecular Characteristics of the Chilean Blob and a Comparison With the Remains of Other Sea Monsters: Nothing but Whales". The Biological Bulletin. 206 (3): 125–133. doi:10.2307/1543636. ISSN 0006-3185. JSTOR 1543636. PMID 15198938. S2CID 25172120.
  7. Puig, Rebecca (2004). "A Whale of a Tale". Research Online, University of South Florida. Archived from the original on 2008-05-27.
  8. Adam, David (2003-07-10). "So what did that Chilean blob turn out to be in the end?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-07-14.

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