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MoonRiver

(36,975 posts) Mon Sep 23, 2013, 06:41 PM Sep 2013

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

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

29 replies

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Paleontologists in Peru have unearthed the fossil of a 40 million-year-old “walking whale.” [View all] MoonRiver Sep 2013 OP

And with those chompers it certainly wasn't a grazer. hobbit709 Sep 2013 #1

Probably lived on a diet of peanut brittle. dipsydoodle Sep 2013 #2

Nah. bunnies Sep 2013 #10

Definitely not your current day krill feeder! MoonRiver Sep 2013 #4

Some became krill feeders, some dine on giant squid. hobbit709 Sep 2013 #5

Yes, so maybe this species evolved to be sperm whales. n/t MoonRiver Sep 2013 #6

The molars are remarkably similar to the dentition of modern krill-feeding seals jpak Sep 2013 #8

Maybe a common link between whales and seals? MoonRiver Sep 2013 #18

No, they are far apart on the tree muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #22

Very interesting. Thanks for that explanation! MoonRiver Sep 2013 #24

Parallel evolution. Jackpine Radical Sep 2013 #28

Krill used to be bigger Half-Century Man Sep 2013 #12

And sandwiches. A HERETIC I AM Sep 2013 #20

Heathens, I tell you. Isn't that a tennis shoe in his mouth? libdem4life Sep 2013 #3

Nope, part of Noah's shirt. Shrike47 Sep 2013 #7

Don't you mean Jonah? Spitfire of ATJ Sep 2013 #29

Jesus probably dropped it. bunnies Sep 2013 #9

This is a Fake. It is not real. Control-Z Sep 2013 #11

They'll just claim it was put there by Satan NYC Liberal Sep 2013 #19

There are no more walking whales, but at least we have land sharks. Arugula Latte Sep 2013 #13

Cue the fat jokes Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Sep 2013 #14

Did it smuggle packages of coke in its mouth? Thor_MN Sep 2013 #15

see Hippopotamus reddread Sep 2013 #16

Hippo skulls look like they came from a real monster.... Spitfire of ATJ Sep 2013 #17

Like something out of Lovecraft! randome Sep 2013 #21

Why, Flipper! You're not supposed to be out of your aqua------AIYEEEEEEE! Octafish Sep 2013 #23

NOPE!SORRY! it can only be around 6 THOUSAND years old rustydog Sep 2013 #25

So the other whales just didn't feel like evolving eh? The Straight Story Sep 2013 #26

This thread needs a theme song. Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #27