Macroraptorial sperm whale

Macroraptorial sperm whales were highly predatory whales of the sperm whale superfamily (Physeteroidea) of the Miocene epoch that hunted large marine mammals, including other whales, using their large teeth. They consist of six genera: Acrophyseter, Albicetus, Brygmophyseter, Livyatan, Scaldicetus, and Zygophyseter. All species are known by at least a skull, and are informally grouped without a family designation. They were all likely the apex predator of their habitats, comparable to the modern day killer whale (Orcinus orca), and achieved great lengths, with one species—Livyatan—measuring about 13.5–17.5 m (44–57 ft). The term "macroraptorial" combines the prefixes "macro-", derived from the Greek "makros" (μακρός) (meaning "long", "large" or "great") and "raptorial" from both the Latin "rapere" (ra.pi.o and räpio) and (ra.pi.o and räːpio) and "raptus" (rap.tʊs and räpt̪ʊs̠) and (rap.tus and räpt̪us) in both Classical Latin and in Italianate Ecclesiastical Latin (meaning "to seize", "to grasp", "to carry off", "to grab" or "to snatch"; arguably the same origin as the unrelated act of rape).