Table of Contents
What do scientists think was an ancestor of whales?
The ancestor of today’s whales, the first cetacean, is believed to be Pakicetus, a quadruped measuring 1 to 2 metres long. Skeletons discovered in Pakistan indicate that the animal had typical artiodactyl ankles and a typical cetacean skull.
How does molecular Provide evidence for Evolution?
Arguably, some of the best evidence of evolution comes from examining the molecules and DNA found in all living things. Molecular clocks are used to determine how closely two species are related by calculating the number of differences between the species’ DNA sequences or amino acid sequences. …
How does fossil evidence determine the relationships of whale ancestors and their descendants?
In the 1990s, fossils were unearthed that allowed the whale lineage to be traced back 55 million years to ancestors that were relatively small land-dwelling mammals. Available evidence suggests that the toothed whales and the baleen whales descended from the same group of aquatic ancestors, the dorudontids.
Do whales and dogs have a common ancestor?
First of all,whales and dog have early on common ancestors that have similar traits. The whales ancestor was the pakicetus and it looked very much like a dog. the pakicets was one of the whales ancestors and the grey wolf was the dogs ancestor. both have long muzzles, pelvic bones, fourlegs,fur,ears, and a tail.
How did the modern day whale evolved from a land mammal?
Both hippos and whales evolved from four-legged, even-toed, hoofed (ungulate) ancestors that lived on land about 50 million years ago. Unlike the hippo’s ancestor, whale ancestors moved to the sea and evolved into swimming creatures over a period of about 8 million years.
Why is molecular data used in determining how related one species is to another?
Today, almost all evolutionary relationships are inferred from molecular sequence data. This is because: DNA is the inherited material. We can now easily, quickly, inexpensively and reliably sequence genetic material.
What types of skeletal changes occurred during whale evolution?
What kinds of skeletal changes appear to have occurred during the evolution of whales? Loss of hind limbs, front limbs changed to fins, longer/stronger tail, more streamlined body, many more!