The evolution of whales
From land to water: The origin of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Evolution: Education & Outreach 2:272-288. Compared to other early whales, like Indohyus and Pakicetus, Ambulocetus looks like it lived a more aquatic lifestyle. Its legs are …
Evolution of cetaceans - Wikipedia
The traditional hypothesis of cetacean evolution, first proposed by Van Valen in 1966, [9] was that whales were related to the mesonychians, an extinct order of carnivorous ungulates (hoofed animals) that resembled wolves with hooves and were a sister group of the artiodactyls (even-toed ungulates). This hypothesis was proposed due to ...
When whales walked on four legs - Natural History Museum
Meet Pakicetus, a goat-sized, four-legged creature that scientists recognise as one of the first cetaceans (the group of marine animals that includes dolphins and whales). How Pakicetus ' descendants evolved into whales is one of the most intriguing …
The evolution of whales from land to sea | Knowable Magazine
Increased evidence on whale evolution shows that modern whales diverged from ancient forms around 34 million years ago, with whale diversity peaking during the Miocene Epoch, 23 to 5 million years ago, and then decreasing until now.
How Did Whales Evolve? | Smithsonian
Dec 1, 2010 · In the space of just three decades, a flood of new fossils has filled in the gaps in our knowledge to turn the origin of whales into one of the best-documented examples of large-scale...
Whale Evolution | AMNH - American Museum of Natural History
Part of the Whales: Giants of the Deep exhibition. The astounding transition came shortly after the rise of modern mammal groups, around 55 million years ago, during a hot period in the Earth’s history. Dinosaurs, other than birds, and large marine reptiles had disappeared some millions of years previously.
Evolution of Whales Animation | Smithsonian National Museum …
Whales have existed for millions of years. Watch this animation from the Sant Ocean Hall to see how they evolved from land-dwellers to the animals we know today. Discover more about whale evolution in the Ocean Over Time interactive.
The Fascinating Evolution of Whales - From Land to Sea
May 13, 2024 · Read on to discover the amazing journey of whales. Explore the mysteries of whale evolution, their remarkable adaptations, and the evidence that connects them to our terrestrial past.
These Hips Don’t Lie! The Evolution of Whales - Whale Scientists
Aug 24, 2020 · Whales did not just appear from the depths of the ocean. They have an intriguing evolutionary story. This story shines a light on what makes them so unique and well-adapted for their watery world. In this post, we explain the evolution of whales, from tiny ungulates to …
Evolution: Library: Whale Evolution - PBS
Whale Evolution: Call it an unfinished story, but with a plot that's a grabber. It's the tale of an ancient land mammal making its way back to the sea, becoming the...