Rodhocetus sp. - fossil whale skull (cast) from the Eocene of Pakistan. (public display, Nebraska State Museum of Natural History, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA)
In this early fossil whale, the nostrils are atop the snout and are set in a depression, indicative of the presence of muscles that pinched the nostrils shut when submerged in water.
From museum signage:
"Rodhocetus looked more like today's whales than Pakicetus did.
These whales were partially adapted to life in the water, with short legs that they may have used to waddle about on land - like sea lions do today.
Notice:
- nose partway up the snout.
- simple teeth used to catch and swallow fish.
"
Classification: Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Cetacea, Archaeoceti, Protocetidae
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See info. at:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodhocetus
and
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protocetidae
and
www.blc.arizona.edu/courses/schaffer/449/God%20in%20the%2...
