A team of scientists has discovered a shark-like prehistoric whale with razor-sharp teeth off the coast of Australia. The ancient creature, named Janjucetus dullardi, is believed to have roamed the seas around 26 million years ago. Unlike modern whales, this species was a fast and sharp-toothed predator built for hunting.
The fossil discovery was made by Victoria resident Ross Dullard in 2019, who found fragments of an ancient whale’s skull and ear bone while walking along the beach. The fossils were later studied in detail by researchers from Museums Victoria Research Institute, who found that they belonged to a juvenile specimen about two meters long.
Janjucetus dullardi is one of the earliest cousins of modern whales and sheds light on early marine mammal evolution. Its compact body was built for hunting, with large eyes and sharp teeth making it a fearsome sight in ancient waters. The discovery offers insight into the evolution of baleen whales and provides new information about prehistoric regions in modern-day Australia.
The fossil is significant because it preserves detailed structures such as teeth and ear bones, allowing researchers to better understand how early whales fed, heard, and moved through the water. Advanced CT scans are being used to study the ear bones further, which will help scientists learn more about how ancient whales sensed their environment for hunting and navigation.
This discovery is part of a growing body of research that is rewriting the story of how whales came to dominate the oceans. With new findings like Janjucetus dullardi, scientists are gaining a deeper understanding of these incredible creatures and their evolution over millions of years.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/australia-whale-species-discovery-prehistoric-b2807425.html