The Evolutionary History of Whales - Cetacean Evolution Part 1

The millions of years that led to the modern-day assemblage of whale, dolphin, and porpoise species encapsulates a truly incredible period of mammalian evolution. In this video, we will be reviewing what is currently known about the evolutionary history of Cetacea, as well as examining the relationships this clade has to other, closely related mammals.

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Sources:

The Walking Whales - J.G.M Thewissen, 2014

The Evolution of Artiodactyls - Donald R. Prothero, Scott E. Foss (editors), 2007

Steeman ME, Hebsgaard MB, Fordyce RE, Ho SYW, Rabosky DL, Nielsen R, Rahbek C, Glenner H, Sørensen MV, Willerslev E. Radiation of extant cetaceans driven by restructuring of the oceans. Systematic Biology. 2009

[bkjeong]

Fun fact;

When an orca eats a seal, it’s an artiodactyl eating a carnivoran.

The exact opposite of what usually happens.

[CheeseCakes]

I love these drawings, it's like there's only one guy who makes drawings of prehistoric extinct animals, and he lived in the 70s and 80s and only had faber castel colouring pencils . God bless him.

[mr.grizzly_builds]

Evolution of a whale:
-Hooved wolf
-Then it looked like a big rat/wolf hybrid
-then it’s in the water
-then it’s slimy(but still hairy?)
-now it’s a whale

[mfroggy]

Fish finally evolving to be able to walk on land: Yes, finally we get to see what's on the surface.

Millions of years later...

Whale ancestor: *I WANT TO GO BACK*

[matthiasfloren]

These animals always fascinated me. From tiny hoofted critters to oceanic giants. Evolution is a beautifull thing

[hailgiratinathetruegod]

It is still sad to see, that the last wales on earth lives lonely, on the western edge of England. With its mysterious sounds, no man on earth can understand till this day :(.

[sendmorerum]

Narration: ancient cetaceans
Auto sub: ancient sea turds
Me: ok

[geoffreystuttle]

Why is it that the Orca looks like a formal and handsome bad-ass but all the other whales and most porpoises look like they're in competition as to who can look most awkward ?

[joslynsorensen]

I love the book "Fish With Fingers, Whales With Legs: How Life Came Ashore Then Went Back to the Sea", but it's a little early to read to my son. Your videos, however, are perfect for him, and he loves your accent! (He's two, loves accents)

[pluto]

One of the few times youtube recommendations has actually taken me to a video I'm genuinely interested in.

[DotDotDotDashDashDashDotDotDot]

When scientist discovered whales are actually related to Hippos
10:47 **Surprised whale face**

[emsmnms]

i love that all the illustrations if ancient whales seem so happy you go you funky little ungulates

[SephonDK]

That first wolf thing really has a skull that looks like a whale skull. It's so weird, but makes sense of course.

[organicdinosaur]

Starting from complete land mammals, Cetaceans are amazing!

[dillanswanson]

After seeing this video, speculative zoology doesn’t seem too weird

[Suusleepy]

You guys ever think about how, at some point this creature's evaluation, there was the first of its kind to never go back onto land after it was born

[reddoguk]

The evolution of whales have always fancied me. I remember going to an expedition in Aberdeen as a kid and being big into dinosaurs ect from a young age it helped feed my intrest in evolution something that's still here to this day. Love the videos by the way please keep up the good work.

[presidenttogekiss]

Lol, that whale looks so out of place next to to all those herbivores.

[yux.tn.]

watching stuff like this makes me care a lot more about the environment and climate change

[Whatever-iu]

We had mammal-like crocodiles, then crocodile-like mammals... Nature is so fascinating and weird at the same time.