-
Pakicetus(50 million years)
In 1978, fossil hunters discovered a mammal fossil of 53 Million Years Ago. They concluded that the pakicetus was the earliest prehistoric whales. They lived in the early Eocene Era. Pakicetus were about the shape,size and weight of a modern wolf. They were land mammals that adapted to hunt in the rivers occasionally for fish because they could no longer find food on land. After 10 to 20 million years later they have evolved to what is known as Ambulocetus. -
Ambulocetus(49 million years)
This evolved version of Pakicetus has improved greatly. Ambulocetus was about 10 feet long and 500 pounds. It's snout is now more narrow, it now has webbed feet, and a longer tail for swimming. It's diet consisted of fish and crustaceans, it was still a fresh water whale. Ambulocetus was the walking and swiming whale and it's male ancestor still lives primarly on land. The fossil of Ambulocetues vanishes 49 million years ago. It has now evolved to Rodhocetus. -
Rodhocetus(46 million years)
In 1994, fossil hunters found a 46 million year old fossil skeleton in the shores of central Asia. This is the evolved version of Ambulocetus, it has shorter head, longer legs with flippers and a more wider tail for better swimming. It's diet consited of fish and squids. Rodhocetus spent most of its time in the water than on land; although, it was still capable of walking on land. As the sea became more shallow and much more fish were in the sea, Rodhocetus started to hunt in salt water. -
Basilosaurus(40-35 million years)
Basilosaurus is the second evolved version of Rodhocetus. These whales were the biggest to ever live on earth. It was up to 60 feet long and weighed approximently 50-70 tons. It had a short head with a narrow snort, and it had small flippers. Basilosaurus lived in the middle Eocene about 40 to 35 million years ago. Although, the basilosaurus big size was no match for the ocean and the second evolved species of Rodhocetus known as Dorudon whale took over as the modern whale. -
Dorudon(41-31 million years)
The Dorudon is the final stage in whale evolution, it represents a modern dolphin. It was about 16 feet long, weighing half a ton. and it ws muscular in size. It lived in the late Eocene 41-31 million years ago. Their diet consisted of fish and mollusks. 60 meter sharks were the whales predator although, with the sense and smallness of the whale it was easy to get away. -
Modern Whales(today)
Today there are now about 86 different species of whales, dolphins and porpoises. The biggest whale on earth right now is Blue Whales, They reach lenghts up to 100 feet and can weigh 100-190 tons. Whales use sonar to find prey and food, and they ususally eat krills, shrimp and little fish.
