Ambulocetus was a genus of early cetacean (the group
containing whales, dolphins and porpoises) that could
walk as well as swim. It lived during the early
Eocene between about 50 million and 49 million years ago.
Ambulocetus was about 10 feet (3 meters) long, and is
known to have been amphibious - its back legs are
particularly adapted for swimming. It seems to have
been able to live in both salt and freshwater,
and it is thought perhaps that it hunted in a similar
way to modern crocodiles - hiding in shallow water, and
grabbing unsuspected prey when they came to drink.
Ambulocetus includes several adaptations with modern whales.
It did not have external ears, and its periotic bones
had a similar structure to those of whales, allowing it
to hear under water. It also had teeth similar
to modern cetaceans, and an adaptation of the nose
that allowed it to swallow underwater.
Reconstructed Ambulocetus:
(those bones which have so far been found are shown in red)
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