From Land to Sea: The Evolution of Whales
Nicholas McDonald
Early Ancestors
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Pakicetus was a small
land predator that
lived in coastal
habitats.
It shows similar ear
structure to modern
whales that is unlike
any other mammals.
Ambulocetus was
more adapted to
aquatic life and spent
time both in and out
of water.
Maiacetus

The next step in
whale evolution
Maiacetus lived a
lifestyle similar to sea
lions today.
The Aquatic Leap

Dorudon was the first Tail flukes have
ancient whale to live a
developed but
fully aquatic lifestyle.
vestigial hind limbs
are still plainly visible.
Whale Evogram
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None of these ancient
whales are direct
ancestors of modern
whales as far as we
know.
Whale Evolution
Video
Questions?
Cited Works
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Smithsonian Institute:
http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-videos/evolutionwhales-animation
National Geographic:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/08/wh
ale-evolution/mueller-text/2
Understanding Evolution:
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/e
vograms_03
PBS:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/03/4/l