Can work this picture out?
Showing posts with label jaw. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jaw. Show all posts
Whales Took an Evolutionary Leap Forward
Eons ago ancestors of whales made a major leap forward in evolution of their mouths. Whales living today can filter-feed in large amounts because the lower jaw is flexible in movement.
Ancient fossils such as Janjucetus hunderi do not have such a mobile lower jaw. The development of this attribute probably initially evolved to consume large living prey. It began with a wide upper jaw and normal teeth - no comb filters. Erich Fitzgerald from the Museum Victoria in Melbourne has created a family tree showing whale evolution.
The way whales feed is unique. It is believed that sucking when feeding still takes place, a left over from the days of the wide upper jaw.
A big question is why whales went back into the sea in the first place.
Ancient fossils such as Janjucetus hunderi do not have such a mobile lower jaw. The development of this attribute probably initially evolved to consume large living prey. It began with a wide upper jaw and normal teeth - no comb filters. Erich Fitzgerald from the Museum Victoria in Melbourne has created a family tree showing whale evolution.
The way whales feed is unique. It is believed that sucking when feeding still takes place, a left over from the days of the wide upper jaw.
A big question is why whales went back into the sea in the first place.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/
http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/
http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Anthropology
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
