>>Dr Olivier Lambert, from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, co-authored the study describing the animal. He says, ‘This is the first indisputable record of a quadrupedal whale skeleton for the whole Pacific Ocean, probably the oldest for the Americas and the most complete outside India and Pakistan.’

The specimen discovered was wonderfully preserved, showing that the ancient species (which has now been called Peregocetus pacificus) had a mix of features adapted for both a terrestrial and aquatic lifestyle.

It had four limbs that each ended in hooved toes. While the skeleton suggests that these limbs would have been able to support the body out of water, the anatomy of the toes suggests that they may have been webbed, like those of a modern-day otter.<<

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2019/april/ancient-four-legged-whale-with-webbed-feet-and-hooves-uncovered-in-Peru.html

PermeateFree said:

>>Dr Olivier Lambert, from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, co-authored the study describing the animal. He says, ‘This is the first indisputable record of a quadrupedal whale skeleton for the whole Pacific Ocean, probably the oldest for the Americas and the most complete outside India and Pakistan.’

The specimen discovered was wonderfully preserved, showing that the ancient species (which has now been called Peregocetus pacificus) had a mix of features adapted for both a terrestrial and aquatic lifestyle.

It had four limbs that each ended in hooved toes. While the skeleton suggests that these limbs would have been able to support the body out of water, the anatomy of the toes suggests that they may have been webbed, like those of a modern-day otter.<<

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2019/april/ancient-four-legged-whale-with-webbed-feet-and-hooves-uncovered-in-Peru.html

Why is it classified as a whale ?, the artistic picture looks seal like

Cymek said:

PermeateFree said:

>>Dr Olivier Lambert, from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, co-authored the study describing the animal. He says, ‘This is the first indisputable record of a quadrupedal whale skeleton for the whole Pacific Ocean, probably the oldest for the Americas and the most complete outside India and Pakistan.’

The specimen discovered was wonderfully preserved, showing that the ancient species (which has now been called Peregocetus pacificus) had a mix of features adapted for both a terrestrial and aquatic lifestyle.

It had four limbs that each ended in hooved toes. While the skeleton suggests that these limbs would have been able to support the body out of water, the anatomy of the toes suggests that they may have been webbed, like those of a modern-day otter.<<

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2019/april/ancient-four-legged-whale-with-webbed-feet-and-hooves-uncovered-in-Peru.html

Why is it classified as a whale ?, the artistic picture looks seal like

It evolved into the whales we know today. Chimpanzees etc, are apes and so are we.

Looks credible, well done.

PermeateFree said:

Cymek said:

PermeateFree said:

>>Dr Olivier Lambert, from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, co-authored the study describing the animal. He says, ‘This is the first indisputable record of a quadrupedal whale skeleton for the whole Pacific Ocean, probably the oldest for the Americas and the most complete outside India and Pakistan.’

The specimen discovered was wonderfully preserved, showing that the ancient species (which has now been called Peregocetus pacificus) had a mix of features adapted for both a terrestrial and aquatic lifestyle.

It had four limbs that each ended in hooved toes. While the skeleton suggests that these limbs would have been able to support the body out of water, the anatomy of the toes suggests that they may have been webbed, like those of a modern-day otter.<<

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2019/april/ancient-four-legged-whale-with-webbed-feet-and-hooves-uncovered-in-Peru.html

Why is it classified as a whale ?, the artistic picture looks seal like

It evolved into the whales we know today. Chimpanzees etc, are apes and so are we.

Yes of course

These types of hybrid type animals must surely reinforce evolution as how live develops and changes on Earth

Bubblecar said:

Looks credible, well done.

I thought the description of this early whales was interesting, but main part of the article dealt with the migration of whales in Asia to the Americas, which was earlier than thought and appears to have been via South America, rather than by the Northern route. Interestingly, it was not humans that first colonised the world, but the Whales.

PermeateFree said:

Bubblecar said:

Looks credible, well done.

I thought the description of this early whales was interesting, but main part of the article dealt with the migration of whales in Asia to the Americas, which was earlier than thought and appears to have been via South America, rather than by the Northern route. Interestingly, it was not humans that first colonised the world, but the Whales.

They have an advantage I imagine

Cymek said:

These types of hybrid type animals must surely reinforce evolution as how live develops and changes on Earth

Yes this ancestor is definitely a missing link, but so are we all. Evolution does not stand still.

PermeateFree said:

Cymek said:

These types of hybrid type animals must surely reinforce evolution as how live develops and changes on Earth

Yes this ancestor is definitely a missing link, but so are we all. Evolution does not stand still.

That is true

It’s weird that all this past exists but we can never see it (highly unlikely perhaps), living in the present is limiting

What size? Ahh, a bit bigger than a human.

I used to know what whales evolved from. Ah yes, hippos. And before that, from browsers, like cattle, goats, sheep, deer, giraffe and antelope.

mollwollfumble said:

What size? Ahh, a bit bigger than a human.

I used to know what whales evolved from. Ah yes, hippos. And before that, from browsers, like cattle, goats, sheep, deer, giraffe and antelope.

Teeth don’t look like those of a hippo or browser. More like those of a shark or seal.

mollwollfumble said:

What size? Ahh, a bit bigger than a human.

I used to know what whales evolved from. Ah yes, hippos. And before that, from browsers, like cattle, goats, sheep, deer, giraffe and antelope.

Around 4 metres in length if I remember correctly and there was no mention of hippos.