Whales first developed in the Cenezoic Era, in the Tertiary Period. Whales are not extinct, as many of you know, but they are endangered.
The earliest known ancestor of the whale is a wolf-like creature called a Sinonix. These ancient creatures had teeth similar to whales, and a cranium structure similar to whales.
Another ancestor of modern whales is the Pakicetus. These animals had inner ear structures very similar to those of modern day whales.
Throughout the evolutionary tree of whales, their inner ear has been found in many of their ancestors. These ears are specific to the cetacean group. (The Cetacean group is made up if aquatic mammals like dolphins and whales) Fossils such as Pakicetus, Ambulocetus, and Indohyus all have inner ear structures that are the same as whales today.
The earliest known ancestor of the whale is a wolf-like creature called a Sinonix. These ancient creatures had teeth similar to whales, and a cranium structure similar to whales.
Another ancestor of modern whales is the Pakicetus. These animals had inner ear structures very similar to those of modern day whales.
Throughout the evolutionary tree of whales, their inner ear has been found in many of their ancestors. These ears are specific to the cetacean group. (The Cetacean group is made up if aquatic mammals like dolphins and whales) Fossils such as Pakicetus, Ambulocetus, and Indohyus all have inner ear structures that are the same as whales today.