Did dolphins once walk on land?

Answer 1

Fossil remains show dolphins and whales were four-footed land animals about 50 million years ago and share the same common ancestor as hippos and deer. Scientists believe they later transitioned to an aquatic lifestyle and their hind limbs disappeared.

Whale and dolphin fetuses also show signs of hind protrusions but these generally disappear before birth.

Though odd-shaped protrusions have been found near the tails of dolphins and whales captured in the past, researchers say this was the first time one had been found with well-developed, symmetrical fins, Hayashi said.

"I believe the fins may be remains from the time when dolphins' ancient ancestors lived on land … this is an unprecedented discovery," Seiji Osumi, an adviser at Tokyo's Institute of Cetacean Research, said at a news conference televised Sunday.

The second set of fins - much smaller than the dolphin's front fins - are about the size of human hands and protrude from near the tail on the dolphin's underside. The dolphin measures 8.92 feet and is about five years old, according to the museum.

Despite their big brains, scientists aren't convinced that dolphins are as intelligent as they get credit for. Their large brains may be due to the fact that they are warmblooded animals living in water.

Answer 2

They get oxygen from the air because they're mammals, however they still need to stay in the water because, they wouldn't be able to move anywhere, the food they eat is in the water, and they would overheat on land and need the water to cool off.

Answer 3

Unfortunately not for very long.

If you were to put a dolphin in another habitat it would slowly die. It's skin is very moist and it needs water to protect it from the sun. They sunburn very easily.

After a while functions deteriorate things like blood flow etc.

Answer 4

dolphins live in water

Dolphins live in all oceans of the planet and even in some important rivers.

While not all species of dolphins live everywhere, there is a species for each environment.

Specifically one of the best known species, the bottlenose dolphin lives in every ocean of the world except the Arctic and the Antarctic oceans.

The Atlantic spotted dolphin, lives all over the tropical and temperate areas of the Atlantic Ocean avoiding the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

The Pink Dolphin lives in the Amazon river.

Answer 5

Dolphins cannot live on land. They will die, as their bodies are specifically designed to be in water. Dolphins can live on land in an aquarium, but not on land alone.

Answer 6

well the answer is no eventhough they have lungs they still cannot live on land but they can only stay under-water for twelve seconds which is why they always leap out of the water

Answer 7

yes but not long

Answer 8

2 days