Unlike fish, such as whales and dolphins marine mammals They evolved from other animals to sea creatures.

marine mammals evolved from what animals? Let’s see together how it got its current appearance and how it differs from fish.

They evolved from four-legged animals!

tail fins pushing water used. Fish muscles move the spine back and forth. A vertical fin is therefore necessary to propel the body in a smooth motion.

However, in the evolution of marine mammals hind legs Despite their disappearance, they still have rudimentary pelvic bones. Unlike fish, whales and dolphins evolved from four-legged land creatures with limbs under their bodies and have survived to this day.

First ancestors of whales and dolphins: Pakicetus

marine mammals to its current form We have many fossils that belong to the 50 million year evolutionary process to the If we go to the oldest of these fossils, the creature we encounter is Pakicetus.

Pakicetus, whales and dolphins first ancestor of a mammal is estimated. Known to live within the borders of present-day Pakistan, Pakicetus is a fish-eating carnivorous animal.

Tails of marine mammals also have functions.

Since cetaceans continued to use their tails throughout their evolution, these tails naturally did not atrophy. For example whales as a form of communication they hit the surface of the water in this way or stun their underwater prey.

• Sources: Prof. Adriana Heguy, British Whales, American Museum of Nature History