Whales and dolphins evolved from wolf-like animals.
Nobu Tamura/spinops.blogspot.com
The earliest cetaceans were the pacicetes, which lived about 50 million years ago. These four-legged animals did not exceed one meter in length, and most of them resembled wolves with a less “noble” physique and a long mouth. Pakicetes were first discovered in what is now Pakistan. during the Eocene (This epoch began in 56 and ended 33.9 million years ago.listen)) this region was an isolated island off the coast of Eurasia. Many scientists believe that these animals lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle and prey on fish such as seals and elephant seals. Pakicetes had small hooves on their toes, and their closest non-cetacean relatives among modern species are hippos.
Primitive marine mammals looked like furry crocodiles
Wikimedia Commons
Ambulocetes can be called a transitional form between land animals and full-fledged aquatic animals. Their bodies were narrow and streamlined, and their muzzles elongated with high eyes. Ambulocetus probably hunted like crocodiles: hiding underwater near the shore, it ambushed large mammals. He swam like an otter, bent his front paws and rowed with his hind legs, helping himself with his whole body and tail. At this stage of evolution, cetaceans have not yet lost their ability to land, although they probably moved quite clumsily. It is unclear how thick Ambulocetus’ fur was – he is sometimes depicted covered with thick hair, according to another version he was almost bald. The bases of the hind limbs are also found in the skeleton of modern marine mammals.
Dolphins call each other by “name”.
verified
Marine mammals communicate using sounds, but biologists have only recently realized how advanced their “speech” has become. Each individual responds to a specific whistle, and its type is determined at birth and remains unchanged. Analysis of the dolphin communication record allowed the scientists to isolate the “names” within, and one person responded to each “name” when played through submerged speakers. Dolphins behave this way because of their ability to memorize new sound signals throughout their lives. The ability to seek out one another is likely to be necessary for the group to stay together underwater in poor visibility conditions.
Some songs of humpback whales become “hits” among relatives
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During the mating season, whales communicate with each other through complex melodic sounds similar to singing. The themes of these “songs” are common to the population, but not fixed and change periodically. Some become extremely popular and spread all over the world. Recently, it was found that a borrowing chain can transmit the song of humpback whales over a distance of thousands of kilometers from Polynesia to South America. It is not yet clear which topics have become popular for biologists and on what basis they have changed.
For a long time, the sperm whale’s “echometer” was mistaken for a sperm bag.
Kurzon/Wikimedia Commons
18th-19th. Spermaceti, a substance extracted from the heads of sperm whales for centuries, was in great demand in Europe. In its raw form, the soft substance really remotely resembles sperm, but during processing it separated into an oily and waxy fraction. Spermaceti was used as a base for creams and lipsticks, as well as for lighting – oil was poured into lamps and candles were made from the solid part. In fact, the sperm sac is necessary for the whale to function as an echolocation organ as it orients itself through space.
Dolphins use hunting tools
science.org
The body of a dolphin is adapted for fishing, but sometimes it needs additional tools. Some fish hide in the sand or among small stones, so dolphins in the Australian Sharks Bay “put” sea sponges in their muzzles to protect their noses from damage and use them for hunting. This behavior is not inherent in innate dolphins: they learn to use sponges from their relatives, which allows us to talk about the existence of a culture among marine mammals. Similarly, the skill of extracting a hidden fish from a large empty shell is conveyed: a dolphin puts it on its nose, glides, lifts it, pours out the water, and shakes its prey.
Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.