How Alfred, bottom-feeding prince of whales, grew to be ocean's big blue ruler

By Bridie Smith
Updated January 11 2017 - 10:13am, first published November 30 2016 - 6:38pm
Palaeontologist Dr Felix Mark with the 25-million year old skull of Alfred the whale. Photo: Wayne Taylor
Palaeontologist Dr Felix Mark with the 25-million year old skull of Alfred the whale. Photo: Wayne Taylor
An artists' impression of 'Alfred' showing off his teeth. Photo: Carl Buell
An artists' impression of 'Alfred' showing off his teeth. Photo: Carl Buell
Alfred's skull has helped scientists work out how whale's teeth turned into baleen. Photo: Wayne Taylor
Alfred's skull has helped scientists work out how whale's teeth turned into baleen. Photo: Wayne Taylor
The blue whale is the biggest beast the world has ever seen. Photo: naturepl.com/David Fleetham/WWF
The blue whale is the biggest beast the world has ever seen. Photo: naturepl.com/David Fleetham/WWF
A diagram showing how the whale fed using suction power. Photo: Museum Victoria
A diagram showing how the whale fed using suction power. Photo: Museum Victoria

Scientists have found out how the blue whales rose to become the biggest beasts the Earth has seen – and it's all down to their teeth.