Scientists have uncovered a 26-million-year-old, razor-toothed whale that was “deceptively cute” but a fearsome predator off Australia’s Surf Coast. The newly discovered species, Janjucetus dullardi, is named after local resident Ross Dullard who found its skull on the beach in 2019. The fossil, part of the mammalodontid family, is significant as it provides insight into ancient whale evolution and adaptation to life in the sea.
Researchers say the whale was small, about the size of a dolphin, with big eyes and a mouth full of sharp teeth. The discovery has shed new light on early whale evolution and how species adapted to their environment over time. Museums Victoria released a video discussing the findings, and palaeontologist Erich Fitzgerald described it as “a window into the past.”
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-species-ancient-whale-deceptively-cute