Egyptian scientists unearth fossil of 41m-year-old miniature whale

Egyptian scientists unearth fossil of 41m-year-old miniature whale

Hesham Sallam, team leader from the American University in Cairo (AUC), highlighted the significance of this findinig. He said that this discovery "documents one of the first phases of the transition to a fully aquatic lifestyle".

As per an AUC statement, Sallam added that the basilosaurids showcased fish-like attributes, including a streamlined physique, powerful tail, flippers, and a tail fin. Their most intriguing feature was the remnants of hind limbs, identified as 'legs'. These limbs weren't functional for walking, potentially serving a role in mating rituals.

Erik Seiffert from the University of Southern California, a contributor to the research published in Communications Biology, underscored Egypt's Western Desert's Eocene fossil sites as crucial for grasping the early evolution of whales and their journey towards an entirely aquatic life.