Dolphin Evolution
From land to water
Ancestors
The modern day dolphin has had a few ancestors in the past. In total there are about 6 and the first one appeared over 53 million years ago!
Names of the ancestors
The name of the ancestors are Pakicetidae, Ambulocetidae, Remingtonocetidae, Protocetidae, Basilosauridae, Dorudontidae.
Art Gallery
Pakicetidae
This creature appeared over 53 million years ago!
Ambulocetidae
The Pakicetidae evolved into Ambulocetidae and lived over 48 million years ago.
Remingtonocetidae
The Ambulocetidae evolved into Remingtonocetidae and lived over 43 million years ago.
Protocetidae
The Protocetidae has lived more than 35 million years ago
Basilosauridae
The Protocetidae has evolved into the Basilosauridae and lived around the same time as the Dorudontidae. They both lived 34 million years ago
Dorudontidae
The Dorudontidae lived more than 34 million years ago.
How we know they are related
These creatures that lived millions of years ago all have a hip bone located inside them but even the ones that don't go on land have it too. Another way we know they are related is by looking at the spine, the spines are similar to the ones that animals have to walk on land.
Video
This video will talk about the ancestors of the dolphin and will say a few facts about them.
(They talk about whales once because they are also related to dolphins)
(Stop at 1:50)
The Evolution of the Dolphin