https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd en-us 2023-05-16 01:10:26 UTC 2023-05-16 12:05:08 UTC hello@padlet.com ebaker01 https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592149670 Th indohyus was a terrestrial animal which possessed some semi aquatic traits. It was similar in structure to a deer and was the size of a raccoon. It was a terrestrial animal but was theorized to have hid under water when being attacked. It also possessed a unique ear structure that had a thickened knob of bone in the middle called an involucrum which is only found in the whale family. The indohyus had dense bones which were perfect to sinking to the bottom of a body of water. 

]]> 2023-05-16 01:35:52 UTC https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592149670 ebaker01 https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592157161 Pakicetidae were very similar to indohyus in stature. They were slightly larger, around the same size as a wolf. These animals were predators compared to their preyed on ancestors. Pakicetidae had sharp teeth which showed us that they were predators. They ate fish and other small animals. They were also largely terrestrial and would go into the water to hunt.  They lived in coastal environments. ]]> 2023-05-16 01:41:01 UTC https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592157161 ebaker01 https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592179174 Ambulocetus also know as the "walking whale" is where this line of evolution took more to the water. This animal was semi aquatic with staunch limbs and webbed feet. These webbed feet acted like flippers which helped ambulocetus move better in the water than it did on land! It lived in a coastal region and would prey on animals similar to a crocodile due to how easy it was to open and close it's narrow and lightweight jaw. The way the teeth were lined up in the ambulocetus suggested it ate bigger animals.]]> 2023-05-16 01:56:14 UTC https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592179174 ebaker01 https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592181661 Rodhocetus developed hind legs that were slightly longer than the front legs which helped it become a better swimmer. Though it did not have a tail like a mordern day dolphin, it had a strong tail that it theorized to have been used almost like a propeller. Rodhocetus also developed nostrils that were halfway up the snout which was better for being in the water because it could put majority of it's body under the water with still exposing it's nostrils for air. This would eventually become the blowhole in dolphins we see today. 

]]> 2023-05-16 01:57:43 UTC https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592181661 ebaker01 https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592264995 Kutchicetus is considered a transitional evolution when looking at the grand scheme of dolphin evolution. Here is when the species starts to become more aquatic than land bound. The Kutchicetus was built similarly to a modern day otter with short legs and a thicker body. They also had very strong tails similar to the Rodhocetus which would help them navigate in the water. The main reason for the transition from land to water is speculated by many to be because of the food opportunities the water provided. Here is also when we see blubber begin to replace hair. ]]> 2023-05-16 02:50:21 UTC https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592264995 ebaker01 https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592276489 Protocetus was the first of the dolphin lineage to leave coastal environments and spread across the world. The nostril continued to move up the head which made it easier to stay in the water for long periods of time. It also developed what was the beginnings of a tail fluke. This stage in the evolution developed to better off in the water than land. ]]> 2023-05-16 02:57:40 UTC https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592276489 ebaker01 https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592285660 Dorudon further developed the tail fuke, as well as forelimbs were flat and flipper shaped. Because the Dorduon had these structural changes their hind flippers shrunk significantly. All these structural changes made this animal a very good swimmer and allowed it to easily catch fish.

]]> 2023-05-16 03:03:21 UTC https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592285660 ebaker01 https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592300807 Basilosaurus was a more serpentine looking animal. It was about the size of a modern day sperm whale. They were fierce predators, feeding on sharks and large fish but they weren't very intelligent. Unfortunately for the basilosaurus there was an abrupt global cooling which caused the basilosaurus' population to drop rapidly. From the basilosaurus two types of whales formed due to the extreme environmental pressure. The first being baleen whales (mysticetes) and the second being toothed whales (odontoceti), which is the family dolphins are in. 

]]> 2023-05-16 03:12:54 UTC https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592300807 ebaker01 https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592311406 The squalodon had to evolve quickly in order to survive. It was more intelligent that its ancestors. On top of that the squalodon began to develop what is now called a melon. Which is the squishy round part in the front of dolphin's heads which allows for them to echo locate. It also evolved to have a torpedo shaped body, dorsal fin, and have a blowhole at the top of it's head. ]]> 2023-05-16 03:20:45 UTC https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592311406 ebaker01 https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592322098 The modern day dolphin has a lot of features from it's past ancestors. For starters it still has that special ear bone that was found in its primitive stages of development. On top of that it has maintained it's torpedo like body, fluke tail, dorsal fin, melon, echolocation skills, sharp teeth, and blowhole. ]]> 2023-05-16 03:29:20 UTC https://padlet.com/ebaker01/91fp7stiy76fofjd/wish/2592322098