Fossil of 41m-year-old miniature whale discovered in Egypt

Previously unknown Tutcetus rayanensis is just 2.5 metres long and oldest of ocean-living whales recorded in Africa

A pint-size whale that lived around 41m years ago has been discovered by palaeontologists in Egypt, who say the species may have lived a short, speedy life.

Researchers say they unearthed the fossils near Wadi el-Hitan in Egypt, a site where many fossils of ancient whales can be found. At first, they said, it was unclear what they had found.