Ambulocetus, whale precursor, artwork
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Ambulocetus, whale precursor, artwork
Ambulocetus pair swimming, artwork. Ambulocetus, meaning walking whale, lived during the Early Eocene (50 million years ago). It represents a transitional stage in the evolution of whales from land-living animals to aquatic whales. Ambulocetus was adapted to live on both land and water. It had a long, low body with powerful limbs and webbed feet. It had a flattened tail and probably swam in an undulating style similar to otters, seals and whales. Eyes and nostrils on the top of the skull allowed Ambulocetus to hunt prey by stealth in the water, similar to crocodiles. Amphibious mammals such as Ambulocetus evolved over time to become fully aquatic, their forelimbs evolved into flippers, the hindlimbs reduced in size and their tails developed flukes, or tail fins
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Media ID 6372617
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Amphibious Ancestor Early Evolution Evolutionary Evolutionary Bridge Evolutionary Gap Extinct Fossil Fossil Gap Fossil Vertebrate Fossils Intermediate Intermediate Fossil Intermediate Stage Mammal Missing Link Pre Historic Pre History Precursor Primitive Progenitor Proto Swimming Tetrapod Transitional Transitional Fossil Vertebrates Palaeontology
EDITORS COMMENTS
This artwork showcases a pair of Ambulocetus, the fascinating whale precursor that lived approximately 50 million years ago during the Early Eocene period. Known as the "walking whale". Ambulocetus represents a crucial transitional stage in the evolution of whales from land-living creatures to fully aquatic beings. The illustration beautifully captures Ambulocetus' unique characteristics and adaptations. With its long, low body and powerful limbs, this remarkable creature was perfectly suited for both land and water environments. Its webbed feet enabled efficient movement through water, while its flattened tail allowed for undulating swimming similar to otters, seals, and modern-day whales. Ambulocetus possessed eyes and nostrils positioned on top of its skull, enabling it to stealthily hunt prey underwater akin to crocodiles. Over time, amphibious mammals like Ambulocetus evolved into fully aquatic species: their forelimbs transformed into flippers, hindlimbs reduced in size, and tails developed flukes or tail fins. As an important evolutionary link between land-dwelling animals and marine cetaceans such as whales today, Ambulocetus played a vital role in shaping Earth's biodiversity. This artwork not only highlights the beauty of nature but also serves as a visual reminder of our planet's rich biological history.
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