Cetaceans And Evolution
Cetaceans
There are many forms of cetacean life living in the worlds waters. How an why they came into existence is uncertain, but there have been many theories. Some say that dolphins are aquatic forms of goats, and others believe they evolved just like everything else, from a single cell, and
not from an actual multi-cellular being. Because most cetaceans have some vestigial structures such as under-developed os coxae, the former of these two theories remains prevalent in most
researchers minds.
The theory that cetaceans evolved from a goat-like being is not at all farcical. The similarities between the skeletal systems are more than coincidental. The only difference is that the cetaceans adapted to a marine lifestyle. The front limbs became modified as paddle-shaped flippers, the bones of which are still reminiscent of jointed limbs and digits, but the hind limbs were lost. The broad horizontal tail flukes that provide the main propulsive thrust bear no......
View the rest of this paper...
Approximate Word Count: 827
Approximate Pages: 4 (250 words per double-spaced page)
Why should you join Frat Files?
- - It's safe, secure, and private.
- - Instant access to over 100,000 papers. New papers are added hourly.
- - Fast and reliable customer support.
Similar Essays
-
Cetaceans And Evolution
Cetaceans And Evolution. Cetaceans There are many forms of cetacean life living
in the worlds waters. How an why they came into existence ... -
Evidence Of Evolution
... and only a hypoconid on talonid basin ~ Whale Evolution ~ Whales live all ... Basilosaurus
and Dorudon Pakicetids Pakicetids were the first cetaceans, and are more ... -
Evolution
... The pointed beak serves a dual purpose as far as evolution goes and is a ... Whales are
those cetaceans which are neither dolphins (ie members of the families ... -
Earthquake
... taken prior to an earthquake could reduce mortality: fish and cetaceans leaving
costal ... This evolution process is termed as exaptation (Gould and Vrba, 1982). ... -
Whales
... Evolution Recent studies based on genetic sequences have confirmed that all cetaceans
were derived from a single ancestral stock and are closely related to the ...
