Paleontologists in Peru have unearthed the fossil of a 40 million-year-old “walking whale.”

[MoonRiver]

Paleontologists in Peru have unearthed the fossil of a 40 million-year-old “walking whale.”

Found in the Ocucaje Desert in southern Peru, the fossils belong to a group called Achaeocetes, or ancient whales, that possess both land- and sea-dwelling characteristics. Over time, the ancient land animals adapted to water environments where their legs became fin-like and their bodies began to resemble modern sea mammals like dolphins and whales, ITN reports.

http://www.ibtimes.com/40-million-year-old-walking-whale-fossil-discovered-perus-ocucaje-desert-photo-1408306

[hobbit709]

1. And with those chompers it certainly wasn't a grazer.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Probably lived on a diet of peanut brittle.

.

[bunnies]

10. Nah.

No broken teeth.

[MoonRiver]

4. Definitely not your current day krill feeder!

Was it an advantage to change? Who knows!

[hobbit709]

5. Some became krill feeders, some dine on giant squid.

[MoonRiver]

6. Yes, so maybe this species evolved to be sperm whales. n/t

[jpak]

8. The molars are remarkably similar to the dentition of modern krill-feeding seals

Last edited Mon Sep 23, 2013, 10:42 PM - Edit history (1)

In fact it look very similar to the teeth of leopard seals - that eat seals, penguins and krill.

[MoonRiver]

18. Maybe a common link between whales and seals?

[muriel_volestrangler]

22. No, they are far apart on the tree

Whales and dolphins are closest to even-toed ungulates - hippos are thought to be the closest to them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetartiodactyla

Seals are in Carnivora - closest relatives bears and weasels

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinniped

This new find is a member of the whale group. It's not the oldest - Pakicetus dates back to about 55 million years ago. This is interesting because it's in South America, not Asia where all the oldest have been found.

[MoonRiver]

24. Very interesting. Thanks for that explanation!

[Jackpine Radical]

28. Parallel evolution.

[Half-Century Man]

12. Krill used to be bigger

and carried switchblades

[A HERETIC I AM]

20. And sandwiches.

That's why they became so popular.


Sandwiches.

[libdem4life]

3. Heathens, I tell you. Isn't that a tennis shoe in his mouth?

[Shrike47]

7. Nope, part of Noah's shirt.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

29. Don't you mean Jonah?

Or was it Gepetto?

I always get those two confused.

[bunnies]

9. Jesus probably dropped it.

I think he rode one of those.

[Control-Z]

11. This is a Fake. It is not real.

Everyone knows the earth is only about 6,000 years old.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Christian heads are gonna pop when they hear about it.



I doubt I need this - but just in case:

[NYC Liberal]

19. They'll just claim it was put there by Satan

to test their faith.

That's what they say about Dino fossils. No joke.

[Arugula Latte]

13. There are no more walking whales, but at least we have land sharks.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

14. Cue the fat jokes

[Thor_MN]

15. Did it smuggle packages of coke in its mouth?

[reddread]

16. see Hippopotamus

considered a potential link by one of the greatest researchers and naturalists of the 20th century.
Rest in peace, Ken.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

17. Hippo skulls look like they came from a real monster....

[randome]

21. Like something out of Lovecraft!

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Treat your body like a machine. Your mind like a castle.[/center][/font][hr]

[Octafish]

23. Why, Flipper! You're not supposed to be out of your aqua------AIYEEEEEEE!

Chomp. Chomp. Chew. Glomp. Aaaaah.

[rustydog]

25. NOPE!SORRY! it can only be around 6 THOUSAND years old

Everyone who knowed anything knowed the world is only 6 thousand years old!

[The Straight Story]

26. So the other whales just didn't feel like evolving eh?

[Uncle Joe]

27. This thread needs a theme song.

Thanks for the thread, MoonRiver.