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Killer Whales (Orcas) have an essential amino acid called methionine which has the whales eat dolphins or seals. Mammals cannot make their own methionine, so orcas had to have made their own safety valve.

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You can clearly see descent with modification within Order Cetacea, as the organisms within that taxonomic group are related in many ways, but each give their own specific characteristics. This is through the hereditary genes passed down by parents

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Whales went through a directional selection as they were made to be water mammals. They originated as land mammals and over time evolved into the aquatic creatures that they are.Their environments changed giving them way to change

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Whales are a prime example of microevolution, as they began as completely different mammals with completely different structures and functions. When you compare today’s whales to the whales from many centuries ago, it is clear the major change from land to water.

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Killer Whlaes, for example, prove that in fact Order Cetacea went through a genetic isolation. We see this through the cultural differences of different whale populations in different areas. They were isolated from eachother and evolved differently.

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Cetaceans have gone though divergent evolution. The forelimbs in whales are a deciding factor in this conclusion. They have similar structures in their forearms as cats, bats, and humans, which can show that they all come from a common ancestor.

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Cetaceans have gone through a gradual speciation, which unlike punctuated equilibrium, happens over time and not in bursts. Cetaceans have slowly, but surely, gone from the on-land creatures that they once were to the kings of the sea over a long period of time.

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In this diagram you can see the vestigial hind limbs that are present in the organisms classified under Order Cetacea. This proves further that cetaceans were evolved from wolf-like creatures, as noted in embryology, as we see the limbs that once were.

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Cetaceans (most commonly whales) were very different organisms millions of years ago. Whales had hind legs and tails similar to wolves. Long skulls and carnivorous teeth were also present.

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GghNLoCEYaSH6YJpk8VG5DTlsoJYgj0fOZ8C7zCS5R4/edit?usp=sharing

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Dorudon

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Parkicetus

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Basilosaurus

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Basilosaurus

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Porpoise skull

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Sperm Whales are commonly found off South American and African coasts, and all along the equator.
They have blowhole that sits on the top of their forehead, which provides an angled blow. Sperm Whales have a square shaped head that makes up a third of it’s body length. Sperm whales devote a majority of their time hunting (particularly squid, their favorite).

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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammal
Order: Cetacea
Family: Physeteridae
Genus: Physeter
Species: Physeter macrocephalus

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You can see through the taxonomy of each of the organisms that are included under Order Cetacea, that they are all related until it gets to specific details. This explains how organisms that you would not expect to be related, are related.

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Fusiform-Shaped Body

Vestigial Hind Limbs

No sebaceous glands

Blubber

Use auditory communication

Some species can echolocate

Cetaceans have an acute amount of hearing

Aquatic habitat

Coastal areas and open oceans

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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammal
Order: Cetacea
Family: Phocoenidae
Genus: Phocoena
Species: Phocoena sinus

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Killer Whale (Orca)

Common Dolphin

Sperm Whale

Clymine Dolphin

Striped Dolphin

Rough-Toothed Dolphin

Curvier’s Beaked Whale

Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoise

Vaquita

Bowhead Whale

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Vaquitas, endangered, are restricted to the northern end of the Gulf of California. The government of California created a reserve to protect the living Vaquita. They have dorsal fins on their back that aid in swimming. They are typically dark grey on their upper body, while the throat and stomach are streaked with white. Vaquitas use sonar to communicate with each other through the gulf waters. They are usually found in groups of two or three. They are one of the porpoise species found in warm waters.

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Orcas are commonly found in cold, coastal waters, or found in polar regions to the Equator. Orcas are cylindrical in shape, but taper at the ends. This shape helps the orcas to swim more efficiently. This type of body creates less drag. The inside of a flipper is similar to the structure of a human hand.

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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammal
Order: Cetacea
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Orcinus
Species: Orcinus orca