The Story So Far

Whale evolution is one of biology's best-documented journeys:

• Land roots: Wolf-sized ancestors waded into the sea about 50 million years ago.
• Closest cousins: Hippos, confirmed by DNA, share their ancestry.
• A clear fossil trail: Pakicetus, Ambulocetus, and Basilosaurus mark the steps.
• Hidden leftovers: Small pelvic bones still sit buried in whale muscle.
• Recent giants: Huge sizes arrived late, once ice ages concentrated prey.