Article 4CHDQ The whale with legs shows how little we know about Earth’s fantastical past | Riley Black

The whale with legs shows how little we know about Earth’s fantastical past | Riley Black

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Riley Black
from on (#4CHDQ)
The excavation of the extraordinary fossil Peregocetus pacificus in Peru is a reminder of the wonders still awaiting discovery

Whales used to live on land. This fact never ceases to amaze me. Even though every living species of cetacean - from the immense blue whale to the river dolphins of the Amazon basin - is entirely aquatic, there were times when the word "whale" applied entirely to amphibious, crocodile-like beasts that splashed around at the water's edge. This week, paleontologists named another.

Related: Fossil of ancient four-legged whale with hooves discovered

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