Dolphins used to live on land

Japanese researchers said last month caught a beaked dolphin with a special set of fins that they consider to be traces of hind legs. This proves that this marine mammal used to travel on land.

(Photo: spokesmanreview) The fishermen captured this 4-fin dolphin off Wakayama in western Japan on October 28.

Many fossils found earlier also show that dolphins and whales are four-legged animals that live on land about 50 million years ago and have the same ancestors as hippos and deer. Researchers believe that they later turned to underwater life and the limbs faded away.

Earlier, people discovered strange protrusions near the tail of dolphins and whales. However, the researchers still believe that this is the first time an animal with a fully balanced development fin is found.

" I believe these fins are remnants of the ancient ancestors of terrestrial dolphins. This is an unprecedented discovery ," said Seiji Osumi, at the Institute of Marine Mammal Research. in Tokyo, speak.

The second set of fins - much smaller than the previous two fins - is about the size of a human hand and protrudes near the dolphin's tail. Animals are 2.72 m long and about 5 years old.

Perhaps a mutation in one of these genes caused this ancient trait to recur, Osumi said. The fish will be kept at the Taiji Museum for X-ray and DNA testing.

MT