Surprising Parallel Evolution of Whales from Dolphins

Scientists have found a surprising parallel evolution of whales from dolphins

On June 9, the journal Current Biology published for the first time an almost complete extinction of an extinct giant dolphin species found in what is now South Carolina. This 15-foot-long dolphin (Ankylorhiza tiedemani comb. N.) Roamed the earth about 25 million or two and a half billion years ago during the Oligocene period, the existence of which has so far been found only in fossils called partial rostrum (snot).

According to researchers, the structure of the skull, teeth, flipper and spine proves that this giant dolphin was the best hunter of its time. The species has evolved in parallel, as these whale species thrive in the same aquatic climate as these dolphins. Some of the characteristics of the current Balinese whale or toothed whale have come from this dolphin species through parallel evolution, as these whale species grow in the same aquatic climate as these dolphins.

Robert Bosenecker of Charleston College, South Carolina, said: "It's amazing that the way the balloon whale and the dolphin have mastered the same swimming technique has evolved from their different ancestors. There are other examples, such as a narrowing of the tail structure, an increase in the number of vertebrae in the tail, and a shrinkage of the humerus.

He added: “Different species of seals and RC lions have different types of swimming techniques or different types of postcranial bones. The same evolution in swimming speed in large groups of whales has occurred due to an extra bone in the flipper and its synovial joint. ”

Although broken fragments of its skull were discovered in the Wando River, South Carolina, in the 180's, the first skull was discovered by Albert Sanders, curator of the Charleston Museum of National History. A study in the 90's found almost complete descriptions of its skull.

Mark Havenstein, a commercial paleontologist, found the fossil during a residential area construction in South Carolina, which was later donated for research to the Mess Brown Museum of National History. From these fossils, Anciloriza is known as a type of ecological specialist. According to the researchers, the species is "obviously attracted to large body prey, much like the Killer Whale."

According to the researchers, from another point of view, the predatory dolphins of the genus Ankylosaurus were the highest eater of the food chain at that time. After the extinction of Ankylosaurus 23 million years ago, the killer sperm whale and the sharkento whale squalodon evolved and occupied the position of top predator for 5 million years.

After the last killer sperm whale died 5 million years ago, the place of the top hunter was empty until the Ice Age, and it was replaced by the killer whale 1-2 million years ago.

"The evolutionary history of whales and dolphins is complex enough not to be found in other species today," Bosenecker said. This fossil record shows a huge evolutionary cycle that can be understood from fossils such as ankylosing spondylitis. 

He further said that research into some more fossils of the Ankylosaurus may reveal the existence of a second species or the fine development of the current dolphins and whales from the young Ankylosaurus. Maybe there's more to learn from these balloon whales and living fossil dolphins in South Carolina.

‘Charleston, South Carolina has some of the most bizarre and unique dolphins and ballet whales of the early Oligocene era. Because the Oligocene is a time when marine mammals are rare. So scientists are hoping to learn about the early evolution of these mammals from the Charleston fossils.