Four-legged whale ancestors reached South America in an otter-like swimming style



A four-legged whale from Peru indicates that early whales crossed the South Atlantic before 42.6 million years ago and may have propelled like otters: with a robust tail and webbed fingers on their long feet. Full article:

Current Biology, Lambert et al.: “An amphibious whale from the middle Eocene of Peru reveals early South Pacific dispersal of quadrupedal cetaceans”

Peregocetus pacificus

Production: Stéphane Van Israël, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences