Whales evolved from dog-sized land mammals!

[Tobi]

This is so interesting.

https://www.sciencenewstoday.org/the-evo...and-to-sea

I read about this a couple of weeks ago, so checked it out via various sources, and found it to be true as far as the fossil record has discovered anyway.

Once, what is now a Whale, started out as a land animal about the size of a large dog.
I also read somewhere but have lost the exact source now (maybe I'll find it again), that these animals had cranial and jaw structures rather similar to Wolves.

The evolution of course, took place over a vast amount of time: something like 50 million years. But it's thought that the dog-like creatures started hunting for fish, and gradually adapted to water as a result.

It makes me think; when any creature, including humans, makes a new innovative move, who knows where that might lead in some distant future?

[Catherine]

I heard something about this, but I hadn't had time to read it yet. It does make sense. They are full air breathers and they are carnivores.
For a carnivore ancestor to return to the ocean looking for food is possible and it seems that is actually happened.
Evolution has lots of time. Changes and adaptions can take centuries.
I think humans are a good example. We occupy the whole planet, but there are some extreme variations in different parts of the world.
There is a big difference between equatorial Africa and the Arctic circle. People can't even eat the same. Their needs are different.
People who live at high altitudes have some physical adaptations.

A land animal who wanted to take advantage of all the food in the ocean, would want to adapt to aquatic life.
Seals are definitely like dogs in some ways. They are still partly land adapted.
Whales however have gone all the way back to the ocean.
I wonder if any humans could do that?