The evolutionary origins of whales has long been a source of wonder. How and why did land mammals make the transition back to a marine existence? Many questions remain unanswered, but recent discoveries have brought us much closer to a comprehensive understanding of the major evolutionary transitions that led to modern cetaceans.

In this video, Hans Thewissen and colleagues introduce Indohyas, oldest known whale relative. Indohyas fits nicely into the known series of fossil proto-whales, represented by the wolf-like Pakicetus, the crocodile-like Ambulocetus, and the bizarre Kutchicetus.

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