With much gratitude to Professor Hans Thewissen for his many contributions of information and enlightening constructive criticism which helped make this collection of articles possible.

You may also want to visit Prof. Thewissen's new site "Digital Library of Dolphin Development" which includes images of tiny limb buds on dolphin embryoes.

Special Featured Articles

Pelvic bone on modern whales
Photographs of Humpback and Pilot Whale mounts contributed by the Milwaukee Public Museum with commentary by Professor Hans Thewissen.

The Evolution of Whales
Based on the sensational National Geographic article from November 2001, The Evolution of Whales. Overview of whale origins. Includes illustrations based on fossil progressions in transitional whales and dolphins. Additional comments from early whale expert and Paleontologist, J.G.M. Thewissen, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine.

Hind Limb Bud Images, Dolphin Embryo and Fetus Development
Photographs of hind limb buds on a five week old Pantropical Spotted Dolphin embryo, and 1.5 to 4 month fetus development. Images courtesy of Professor J.G.M. Thewissen.

Sirenian Evolution
(Manatee, Sea Cow, Dugong)
Sirenians and Elephants are evolved from a common ancestor. Like whales, sirenians returned to the water. Though hind limbs on whales may be rare and difficult to witness, many sirenians (not all) still retain vestigial toenails like their elephant cousins, and share other traits in common with modern elephants. Includes commentary between LeVar Burton and Dr. Mark Lowe, Veterenary Science. Contains images courtesy of Reading Rainbow, PBS Television. (GPN/Nebraska Educational Telecommunications and WNED-TV, Buffalo NY).

TOKYO Nov 5, 2006 (AP), Japanese scientists reported a bottlenose dolphin, has an extra set of fins that could be the remains of hind limbs. The dolphin was captured alive in western Japan on Oct. 28, by Fishermen. "I believe the fins may be remains from the time when dolphins' ancient ancestors lived on land," said Seiji Osumi, of Tokyo's Institute of Cetacean Research. The hind fins are much smaller than the front fins and are about the size of human hands, protruding near the tail. The dolphin measured approx 9 feet in length.

Dolphin May Have 'Remains' of Legs, Evidence Ocean Mammals Lived on Land

A Dolphin with Hind Limbs, Science Blogs

Dolphin May Have 'Remains' of Legs, Associated Press

Answers In Genesis Response to Dolphin Hind Limb Discovery

Response to AiG's Response on Dolphin Hind Limbs

Dolphin Hind Limbs - Response to Answers in Genesis (AiG)
Answers in Genesis' changing views on hind limb rudiments on cetaceans after discovery of dolphin with four fins.

CONTENTS:

• INTRODUCTION: The Evolution of Whales
  Introduction into the controversy over the origins of modern whales which retain vestigial hind limb rudiments. Cladogram of early whales to modern whales.
• REVIEW OF Strange Tale of the Leg on the Whale
  Vestigial pelvises on whales, denial of femurs by Creationists (calling it bone disease). Creationists say these remnants were designed for copulation only, but science says this is how Evolution works --finding new purpose for old structures.
• REVIEW OF Strange Tale of the Leg on the Whale
  Out of date information published by Creationists. New fossil finds of early whales. Contains image of complete leg bones from basilosaurus, and reconstruction of the creature's likely appearance.
• REVIEW OF A Whale of a Tale? (Ambulocetus) Don Batten
  The whale tail and Ambulocetus' lack of a fluke, nasal drift and canine teeth in early whales. Image showing nasal drift from early to modern whales.
• REVIEW OF Overselling of Whale Evolution
  Questions on the dating of varied early whales, and further suggested reading on whale evolution. The evolution of eco-location, nursing young (suggesting common ancestry with land mammals), and the brain of humans vs. cetacea.
• Land to Sea: Inner Ear Transitions in Whales
  Images of transitional inner ear of whales, as they evolved from land to sea mammals. Professor Hans Thewissen explains the differences of earbone fossils, the incus and tympanic.
• Pelvic Bones on Whales, Ambulocetus
  Answers in Genesis knowingly placed out of date information on the web to refute up to date information. An example of blatant non-scientific misrepresentation of fossil evidence in an attempt to discredit evolutionary fact as speculative theory.
• Example One of Hind Limb Rudiments
  1958, caught in the Bering Sea - An X-Ray revealing bone structures and a photograph taken of the protrusions on the whale's body.
• Example Two of Hind Limb Rudiments
  1919 Historical record and photos of a female humpback with protruded hind limbs including femur, tibia and tarsus, and 1914 report of protruded limbs on embryoes. Images of protruded limb on Cachalot.
• Example Three of Hind Limb Rudiments
  Female Sperm Whale, caught in 1956. Upon examining the interior of the limb three partially cartilaginous bones were found. Corresponding to the pelvis, femur, and possibly to the tibia.
• Example Four of Hind Limb Rudiments
  A list of catches between 1956 and 1963 of whales caught and discovery of hind limb protrustions, including the approxiamate percentage of whales.
• Example Five of Hind Limb Rudiments
  Struthers' commentary on the dissection of a right whale and photos from the Museum of Zoology, including further diagrams. Some interesting facts concerning the pelvic anatomy of the majority of modern day whales.
• Evolutionary Atavisms
  Atavisms and tails on human beings, summary to a creationist by K. Nahigian
.

Skeleton of adult male, Blaineville's Beaked Whale, Mesoplodon densirostris in the Australian Museum, Sydney (after Van Beneden and Gervais, 1868-1879). Forelimb and and pelvic rudiment are from an adult male of the same species in the American Museum of Natural History (after Raven, 1942).
Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals
William F. Perrin, Bernd Wursig, J.G.M. Thewissen

RELATED ARTICLES

New site April 2006.
North Carolina Seashells, or on-site link, here.
Photographs of the beautiful shells found along Coastal North Carolina and with identification of species by Marine Biologist Terri Hathaway of NC Sea Grant.

(www.edwardtbabinski.us webmaster: "I think most people take shells for granted... we did several pages on the evolution of whales, including review and input from Paleontologist Hans Thewissen, an expert on early walking whales...
-- biology is simply fascinating to me. Sea life is under-rated... each of these shells represent a specialized species -- and in their own way are just as important as *any* other species. It's awesome, the origins of life began in the sea. To gain a deeper understanding of the diversity in the ocean, is to better understand where we came from.

Terri Hathaway: I, too, love learning about the natural and life history of marine organisms. They just fascinate me. Guess that's why I went into marine biology (BS degree from UNC Wilmington). I worked as Education Curator at the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island for 18.5 years before taking this job with NC Sea Grant 2.5 years ago. I now work with teachers across the state, getting marine science into classrooms wherever I can.

I'm happy to answer all kinds of questions about the beach, marine life in general or in specific, etc. I just love living near the ocean and being able to see it and walk along it every day. Looking forward to more communcations with you!

Terri K. Hathaway
Marine Education Specialist
North Carolina Sea Grant
Manteo, NC
csi.northcarolina.edu www.ncseagrant.org

Life and ink they run out at the same time
Or so said my old friend the squid - Jimmy Buffett

RECOMMENDED READING

The Emergence of Whales, Evolutionary Patterns in the Origin of Cetacea (Advances in Vertebrate Paleobiology) (Hardcover)
by J. G. M. Thewissen (Editor)

Review from Journal of Mammology, August 6, 2002
Reviewer: Jasmine Benzvi (New York, NY)
'Up to now, a 'state of the art' summary of research on whale origins has not been available. This book admirably fills that void and should be added to the library of any serious mammologist or paleomammalogist.'
- by Annalisa Berta

Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals (Hardcover)
by William F. Perrin (Editor), Bernd Wursig (Editor), J.G.M. Thewissen (Editor)

"This impressive reference would make an excellent addition to any library..."-ENCYCLOPEDIA OF DINOSAURS AND VOLCANOES (February 2003)

"Very highly recommended for students, professionals, researchers and lay people with an interest in marine mammals." WILDLIFE ACTIVIST (Fall 2002)

"...an excellent resource for beginning research. ...This encyclopedia is very highly recommended for all academic and larger public libraries." Teresa Bowden, Villanova University Falvey Memorial Library for E-STREAMS (September 2002)

"...students beginning postgraduate study on marine mammals and researchers and academics working on marine mammals will find it indispensable."

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Answers in Genesis' Response on Evidence for Whale Evolution
Dr. Sarfati's response to a simple request to examine the evidence of hind limb rudiments on modern day whales.

British Creation Society vs. Whale Evolution
Criticisms of several beliefs Creationists hold; evolution, flood geology, young earth creationism.

Photos of hind limb rudiments on modern day whales (and creationist "answers")
Addressing some more of the arguments made by Creationists on whale evolution, from "creation science" theories and hypothesis.

Cetacean Evolution - Whale Evolution - Whale Anatomy
List of Articles on Cetacean - Whale Evolution.

Whale Anatomy and photos of limb rudiments on modern day whales
Photographs from the Milwaukee Public Museum, of their Humpback and Pilot Whale skeletons exhibit. With comments by Professor Hans Thewissen, Ph.D.

Whale Evolution - Struther's Dissection of Whale Pelvis, Femur and Tibia
Diagram of a dissection that was done on a hind limb from a whale by Struthers in 1881.

Additional Links of Interest
Digit Numbering and Limb Development

Japan's Dolphin Slaughter. On the evolution and intelligence of cetacea --and Japan, knowing dolphins are protected as endangered species, it yet continues to allow the hunt of these graceful and intelligent animals. But not only hunting them, the barbarity in which they are butchered is unspeakable.

Machettis are used to cut open throats of conscious dolphins as they lay helpless on the pavement...

Blood pouring from this dolphin's throat and going into shock convulsions...

School children who walk by in this video can see the dolphins agonizing in pain and slowly dying.

Japan's indifference to the dolphin slaughter shows it has no respect for regulations regarding international waters, which harm both the ocean and creatures that live within them.

Shore Whaling: A World Industry
The National Geographic Magazine, May 1911
By Roy Chapman Andrews
Assistant Curator of Mammals, American Museum of Natural History
A guide through the grisly slaughter of whales, an industry that flourished between the nineteenth and even, twentieth century. Photographs by the author.

Roy C. Andrews writes in 1911: "And what is to be the result of this wholesale slaughter? Inevitably the commercial extinction of the large whales, and that within a very few decades. In some localities this has already taken place and all the whales have been killed or driven from their feeding grounds."

"Specimens have been measured which reached a length of 87 feet and in all probability weighed as much as 75 tons. Although the mouth is enormous, large enough in fact to permit 10 or 12 men to stand upright in it, the throat measures only about 9 inches in diameter.

These animals, like most of the "whale-bone whales," usually feed on minute crustaceans, a shrimp about three-quarters of an inch long. They probably never eat fish of any kind if other food is to be had, and of the many stomachs which I have examined, never once could anything but the little red crustaceans be found. From the stomach of one blue whale at Vancouver Island five barrels (1,215 pounds) of shrimp were taken, and it was by no means full."

Carl Zimmer - A Question For the President
On George Bush expressing belief in the Intelligent Design Hypothesis and teaching it in the classrooms.

Genetic Mutations in Humans: From Feet to Flippers
Photographs of a genetic mutation that was passed from mother to daughter. As was the case with land mammal to sea mammal webbing on feet to flipper, these are photographs of webbed toes on humans.

On 6/17/2005 3:51:22 PM, Terry wrote:
http://home.earthlink.net/~w0dfi/pet.html



I think you will really enjoyed this full whale skelton, I think it is a "blue" whale I forget...maybe you have seen it?

I took the picture in the Gulf of Mexico this year but the Skeloton is on Los Conchos Beach east of Puerte Penasco, Sonora, Mexico.
I only had an instant Camera but that's better than nothing. I think it was a Blue whale?? or one witha huge mouth?

-Terry and Pets

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