Whale born on land

The fetal position in the fossil of an ancient whale shows that, more than 47 million years ago, this animal landed on land to give birth.

"Many experts have predicted that ancient whales give birth to land, but I never thought we would find evidence to support or against that assumption," said Philip Gingerich, Dai's paleontologist. University of Michigan (USA) said.

Philip and some colleagues found fossils dating to more than 47 million years of a pregnant Maicatetus inuus in northeast Pakistan in 2000. The head of the fetus descends like terrestrial mammals. and completely different from modern whales. The fetal teeth grow quite well and the researchers believe that if the mother whale does not die, it can give birth within a few days.

Then in 2004 they dug the nearly intact fossil skeleton of a male species of the same species at that location. Males are about 2.6 meters long, weighing between 280 and 390 kg.

Ancient whales live in contiguous areas between the sea and the mainland.Photo: indiana.edu.

This is the first time scientists have found fossils of an ancient whale pregnant. The fossils will help them better understand the life of whales when in the transition from terrestrial to underwater (33.7 to 54.8 million years ago).

"These whales live in contiguous areas between the mainland and the sea. They hunt and rest both in the water and on the land," Philip commented.

Scientists believe that the lower posture allows the fetus of terrestrial mammals to breathe normally even when they are trapped in the mother's labor. However, that position is not beneficial for aquatic animals.

"If born in the water, the head-to-head will suffocate the baby whale before the birthing process ends," Philip explained.