Cetacean Evolution (Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises)
Evidence Of Common Ancestry of Cetaceans and Certain Species of Land Mammals
by Edward T. Babinski


HIND LIMB RUDIMENTS FOUND ON MODERN DAY WHALES

EXAMPLE #1
In 1958 we examined a male Sperm Whale 11.6 meters long caught in the Bering Sea, with unusual protrusions in the pelvic region and along the sides of the genital fold (see Figure #1) with a total length of 28 and 34 centimeters, pigmented like the rest of the body. The section of the left protrusion that extended from the body had the appearance of the rounded blade of a propeller, while the right one looked like a fin with finger-shaped processes. The bones were enclosed in dense connective tissue. Judging from an X-ray photograph (see Figure #2) of the skeleton of the protrusions in this specimen, the section of the protrusions that lay inside the body corresponded to the femur, and the middle section to the tibia and the fibula. The section of the protrusions that extended from the body corresponded to the step of the hind limb, and the elements composing it are probably phalanges of the digits. According to the number of phalanges visible in the X-ray photograph, these are the fifth and fourth digits. The skeleton of these limbs is distinguished from the typical structure of the skeleton of the pentadactyl limb of mammals by the absence of tarsal elements. It may be, however, that they were simply not found due to their small size, weak ossification, and the abundance of connective tissue.
SOURCE: Zembskii, V. A., and Berzin, A. A. (1961) "On the Rare Phenomenon of Atavism in the Sperm Whale." Nauchnye Doklady Vysshei Shkoly. Series "Biologicheskie Nauki." Translated and cited in Berzin, A. A. (1972) The Sperm Whale. Pacific Scientific Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography. Israel Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem. Available from the U. S. Dept. of Commerce, National Technical Information Service. Springfield, VA. p. 65-67

Rudimentary Hind Limbs on Whales - Figure 1

Figure 1
For Enlarged View of Figure 1

Hind Limb Rudiments Found on Modern Day Whales - Figure 2

Figure 2

This diagram goes with the previous example, EXAMPLE #1
For Enlarged View of Figure 2

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.

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Cetacean Evolution (Whales, Porpoises, Dolphins)

The Fighting Natans

RECOMMENDED READING

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

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