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05-06-2014, 11:37 PM
Studies of a skull fragment have revealed it to be from an ancient dolphin
Research was led by Mizuki Murakami of the Waseda University in Japan
The fossil was first found in 1970 but its origin has only just been revealed
It belonged to a species of dolphin that existed up to 13 million years ago
The finding makes dolphins 6 million years older than previously thought
Names Eodelphis kabatensis the species is an important evolutionary link
By JONATHAN O'CALLAGHAN
PUBLISHED: 16:32 GMT, 6 May 2014 | UPDATED: 19:07 GMT, 6 May 2014
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Dolphins may have been swimming the Earth’s oceans for six million years longer than previously thought, suggests a new study.
They are the most diverse family of living marine mammals and include species such as the bottlenose dolphin and the killer whale.
However, their early evolution and fossil record has been steeped in mystery due to lack of good specimens.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/06/article-2621550-1D9DB8EC00000578-617_634x421.jpg
A new study has revealed that modern dolphins, like the bottlenose dolphin pictured here, have ancient ancestors that span back up to 13 million years. This is six million years further back than the first dolphins were thought to be alive
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2621550/Dolphins-swam-oceans-six-MILLION-years-earlier-originally-thought-ancient-skull-reveals.html#ixzz30yvdrwUY
Research was led by Mizuki Murakami of the Waseda University in Japan
The fossil was first found in 1970 but its origin has only just been revealed
It belonged to a species of dolphin that existed up to 13 million years ago
The finding makes dolphins 6 million years older than previously thought
Names Eodelphis kabatensis the species is an important evolutionary link
By JONATHAN O'CALLAGHAN
PUBLISHED: 16:32 GMT, 6 May 2014 | UPDATED: 19:07 GMT, 6 May 2014
193 shares 4View
comments
Dolphins may have been swimming the Earth’s oceans for six million years longer than previously thought, suggests a new study.
They are the most diverse family of living marine mammals and include species such as the bottlenose dolphin and the killer whale.
However, their early evolution and fossil record has been steeped in mystery due to lack of good specimens.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/06/article-2621550-1D9DB8EC00000578-617_634x421.jpg
A new study has revealed that modern dolphins, like the bottlenose dolphin pictured here, have ancient ancestors that span back up to 13 million years. This is six million years further back than the first dolphins were thought to be alive
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2621550/Dolphins-swam-oceans-six-MILLION-years-earlier-originally-thought-ancient-skull-reveals.html#ixzz30yvdrwUY