Londoners are split over who merits the prime spot in the Natural Museum's main hall - Dippy or the new planned blue whale.
Some people welcomed the idea of a new addition to the entrance hall.
Matthew Lowe wrote on Twitter: “A whale skeleton in the Museum entrance? Race you to it.”
And Peter Saxton added: “Love the idea of the new exhibit. Dippy’s had his time.”
Others were more critical and even museum bosses say visitors might be let down by the change.
But who wins on paper? Here are the stats:
Dippy versus the whale
DIPPY:
Skeleton length: 83ft
Weight when alive: 10 to 16 tonnes (a new Routemaster bus weighs 12 tonnes)
Would have eaten: Plants, vegetation
Fact: Dippy has 356 bones. They were shipped to England in 36 crates.
Real or replica: replica
BLUE WHALE:
Skeleton length: 83ft
Weight when alive: Up to 190 tonnes (same as almost 16 Routemasters)
Would have eaten: Krill
Fact: Curators originally paid £250 for the skeleton in 1891.
Real or replica: the real thing
