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Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises: Origin and Evolution of the Cetacea

Lawrence G. Barnes

Open publisher page 21 citations

Abstract

The order Cetacea was the earliest, and is the most diverse mammalian group to adapt to a marine existence. The first fossil whales appear in the fossil record in the Middle Eocene. Interestingly, cetaceans developed in some ways that are parallel to earlier marine reptiles and appear to have filled some of their niches. Some cetaceans later re-adapted to fresh water.

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What this paper is about

The order Cetacea was the earliest, and is the most diverse mammalian group to adapt to a marine existence. The first fossil whales appear in the fossil record in the Middle Eocene. Interestingly, cetaceans developed in some ways that are parallel to earlier marine reptiles and appear to have filled some of their niches. Some cetaceans later re-adapted to fresh water.

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OpenAlex reports 21 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

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Available abstract

The order Cetacea was the earliest, and is the most diverse mammalian group to adapt to a marine existence. The first fossil whales appear in the fossil record in the Middle Eocene. Interestingly, cetaceans developed in some ways that are parallel to earlier marine reptiles and appear to have filled some of their niches. Some cetaceans later re-adapted to fresh water.

Key concepts: Cetacea, Biology, Marine mammal, Fishery, Paleontology, Zoology

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