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No, the family of cetaceans that we call dolphins never had legs. However all modern cetaceans, including dolphins, share a common ancestor that had four fully developed limbs. This common ancestor lived between 45 and 50 million years ago and is now extinct, so it is known only through the fossil record.
The fossil record of cetacean evolution, of ancestral mammals transitioning from an amphibious to a fully aquatic lifestyle, is surprisingly thorough. The genetic evidence is equally compelling. Cetaceans have retained the genes for producing hind limbs, and their developing embryos still exhibit prototypical hind leg buds, that are reabsorbed before forming into full limbs. Rarely partial development does occur and a dolphin is born with vestigial hind limbs; a type of birth defect known as a atavism.
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∙ 12y ago
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∙ 13y agoNot now, but at one point they did. There was a National Geographic Magazine in August of 2010. They had an article called Valley of the Whales. It is about an area of the Egyptian desert that was once covered in ocean. They have been unearthing intact whale skeletons that did indeed have legs. Some of the early species had webbed feet, and propelled themselves on land in the manner of a sea lion.
You can also view a short video about it at the National Geographic website. See the related link below.
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∙ 12y agoThe answer is actually neither. Since whales are a type of sea animal, they do not have arms, in place of arms, they have flippers on the sides of their body and at the end. The flippers help the, swim by pushing the water back.
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∙ 15y agoClick on the link to your right for more information. What early scientist believed to be leg bones turned out to be a key anchor for the reproductive system
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∙ 12y agoNo, whales did not have legs, they had flippers or fins
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∙ 11y agoWhales are sea animals that live in water lots of animals that live in water do not have legs .Sceintist have once belived that whales have legs...Today whales dont have any legs,,,,
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∙ 11y agoNo! Of course not! I blue whale has tail fins! No type of whale has legs!! Loll
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∙ 12y agoNo they do not have legs.
their legs are there bottom flippers.
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∙ 7y agoIn pre-historic times, the ancestors of whales probably did.
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∙ 7y agoYes. Even now occasionally, we discover a living whale with the vestiges of tiny hind limbs inside its body wall.
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Why don't whales have legs?
Whales are aquatic mammals, meaning that a fluke and flippers are better than legs for these creatures.
Are some whales still alive that have legs?
No
What are the release dates for Morphed - 2009 When Whales Had Legs 1-2?
Morphed - 2009 When Whales Had Legs 1-2 was released on: USA: 8 February 2009
Whales have vestigial legs This suggests they?
That they evolved from land animals.
What is the only mammal on the planet with no legs and fur?
Cetaceans are animals without fur or legs, dolphins and whales
What The legs of insects and the legs of mammals are?
The legs of insects and the legs of mammals are usually jointed. This does not take into consideration, though, that sharks, whales, and dolphins are also mammals.
What evidence do fossils provide about ancestors of whales?
You can see that Whales have hipbones, because they use to be mammals, that walked on 4 legs.
What evidence about the ancestors of whales do fossils provide?
You can see that Whales have hipbones, because they use to be mammals, that walked on 4 legs.
Do killer whales jump?
No. Technically, only animals with legs can jump.
To swim whales move their tails from side to side?
Whales' tails move up and down when they swim, just like peoples' legs.
If an animal does not have four legs can it be a mammal?
Not all mammals have four legs. Bats are mammals, but have only two "legs." Whales and dolphins are mammals, but have no legs at all. What distinguishes mammals from other animals is not the number of legs, but the presence of sweat and milk glands.
What is an example of transitional forms?
Whales, because their legs become vestigial for modern day whales. Their legs start to shrink slowly on the ancestors of fossils related to the whales, which slowly evolve to fins. Fish swim side to side, while the whales and dolphins move up and down. The nose slowly moves to the top of the head through the generations.
