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The earliest whale ancestors, known as cetaceans, exhibited several common traits that link them to land-dwelling mammals. They had elongated bodies, limbs modified into flippers, and nostrils positioned on the top of their heads, which facilitated breathing while swimming. Additionally, they retained some characteristics of terrestrial mammals, such as a robust skeletal structure and a hip structure that indicated they were still somewhat adapted to land. These traits highlight their evolutionary transition from land to an aquatic lifestyle.

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What typical whalelike traits were apparently the earliest to appear?

The earliest whale ancestors likely developed traits such as increased size, streamlined body shape, and modified front limbs for swimming. They also probably had adaptations in their skull and teeth for hunting and processing aquatic prey.


What does the ancestor of a whale and the present day whale have in common?

The ancestor of a whale and present-day whales share several key traits, including a similar skeletal structure that reflects their common mammalian lineage. Both possess adaptations for aquatic life, such as streamlined bodies and modified limbs that function as flippers. Additionally, they both breathe air through lungs and give live birth, characteristics that are fundamental to mammals. These similarities highlight the evolutionary transition from land-dwelling ancestors to fully aquatic whales.


What are some whale inherited traits?

Traits can not be inherited in reverse order. Traits can be inherited FROM the parents


What major difference have scientists discovered between today's whales and the fossils of whale ancient ancestors?

Bones of whale ancestors showed that whales had hip bones along with legs and hind feet.


What typical whale-like traits were apparently the earliest to appear What apparently evolved much later?

The earliest whale-like traits, seen in ancient cetaceans like Pakicetus, included adaptations for a semi-aquatic lifestyle, such as elongated limbs and a body shape conducive to swimming. These early whales also had features like a basic form of echolocation and a streamlined skull. Later evolutionary developments included more specialized traits for fully aquatic living, such as the loss of hind limbs, the evolution of flippers, and advanced echolocation capabilities seen in modern species like dolphins and sperm whales. Additionally, the development of a more pronounced dorsal fin and tail flukes occurred much later in whale evolution.


What are some traits about a whale?

killer whales are hunters.


What does a whale body have that hints it has ancient ancestors that lived on land?

i dont really know


Most Common Whale in Newfoundland?

It is the Humpback whale


What is the least common whales?

I would say that the blue whale, and the sperm whale were least common.


What are the common characteristics of the blue whale the sperm whale and the right whale?

they are whales trust me


What are the common ancestors of the whale?

Whales share a common ancestor with land mammals, specifically artiodactyls, which are even-toed ungulates. This lineage can be traced back to a group of terrestrial mammals known as cetancodontophorids, which lived around 50 million years ago. Fossil evidence shows that early whale ancestors, like Pakicetus, were semi-aquatic and gradually evolved adaptations for life in water, leading to modern whales. This evolutionary transition illustrates the significant morphological and ecological changes that occurred over millions of years.


Who saw whale first?

The first person to see a whale would have been one of our remote Cro-Magnon ancestors, hundreds of thousands of years ago- his or her identity will forever be a mystery.