The older theory is that the evolution was of whales and they came from

ancestors of hoofed land animals that were very similar to wolves and
even toed ungulates. The animals had teeth that were triangular, similar to
those of whales. However, the new evidence draws away from that theory
and o"ers information that the whales would be closer related to
hippopotamus and their ancestors. Those that argue this point out that
the ancestors of hippopotamus hasnt been in the fossil record until more
than 1 million years after the rst known ancestor of the whale, Pakicetus.
The most recent information about the Pakicetus, shows us that whales
arent ancestors of mesonychids. Instead, they are artiodactyls and it is
believed when they split from the mseonychids is when the process of
living in the water started to occur. What is interesting though is that
unlike many other mammals, they didnt change to being herbivores.
Instead, they continued to be carnivorous in the water as they would have
been on land.
What was once outwardly seen of the whale hind parts are now smaller
and they are also internalized. However, sometimes there is the
development of mini legs called atavism and that is believed to be the
result of a genetic code that will call for longer extremities to form.
Another change was that the nasal openings moved from the end of the
snout to the top of the skull area. This is what is referred to as nasal drift.
Those nostrils later evolved into blowholes so that they can get to the
surface of the water, take in air, and then be submerged again with ease.
The movement of the ears closer to the eyes is also part of the evolution
process. Very interesting changes over time to help them survive in their
environment in the water only and not on land as before due to ancestral
links.
There are plenty of questions that still linger about the evolution process
for dolphins. The good news though is that some of the evidence that has
been located gives a better idea of what really occurred. It has also
helped to add some support to various theories that still have to be tested
and proven. Some of the fossil remains found in Pakistan in the 1970s
identify some of the di"erent changes that took place for the anatomy of
the dolphin.
The current process of evolution could be slowly changing the limbs of
the dolphin. Some embryos have been spotted with hind limb buds that
will develop close to the base of the uke which is the tail. They are about
1 inch long. The modern body of the dolphin does show two small pelvic
bones that are rod shaped. Yet these limbs arent really shown on the
outside. However, in 2006 a Bottlenose Dolphin was found in Japan that
featured these small ns on each side of the body.
While a great deal more of research is necessary, it is possible that what
is being witnessed is the slow movement of evolution for the body of
dolphins taking place. Only time will tell if that is what occurs and if these
hind limb buds start to be visually present on future generations of
o"spring.




Citation




"Dolphin Evolution." Dolphin Facts and Information. Web. 20 May 2014.
Website