Image Credit: Associated Press
Scientists found the 25-million-year-old whale ancestor Janjucetus dullardi at Jan Juc Beach in Victoria Australia. The juvenile whale is small enough to fit in a single bed, had a shark-like snout with sharp teeth and tennis-ball-sized eyes which made it resemble a cartoon or Pokémon-like appearance. The predator whale differed from modern baleen whales because it actively hunted with its powerful jaws. The fossil discovery of Janjucetus dullardi revealed information about whale evolution because it belongs to the rare mammalodontid group of early whales. Amateur fossil hunter Ross Dullard discovered the fossil in 2019 when he noticed a black object extending from a cliff which turned out to be an unusual find. The researchers confirmed its uniqueness because well-preserved ancient whale fossils are extremely rare. The scientific discovery revealed important information about ancient whale behaviour and anatomy and their ocean adaptations while also sparking public interest which led Dullard to plan a fossil-themed event to celebrate his remarkable discovery.
Reference: Graham-McLay, C. (2025, August 15). Scientists discover an ancient whale with a Pokémon face and a predator bite. Associated Press. Retrieved from https: AP News