Evidence for convergent evolution of ultrasonic hearing in toothed whales (Cetacea: Odontoceti)

• Published in: Biology Letters
• Main Authors: Racicot, Rachel A., Boessenecker, Robert W., Darroch, Simon A. F., Geisler, Jonathan H.
• Other Authors: Division of Earth Sciences, Vanderbilt University
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Royal Society 2019
• Subjects: toothed whales
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2019.0083; https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsbl.2019.0083; https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rsbl.2019.0083

Toothed whales (Cetacea: Odontoceti) are the most diverse group of modern cetaceans, originating during the Eocene/Oligocene transition approximately 38 Ma. All extant odontocetes echolocate; a single origin for this behaviour is supported by a unique facial source for ultrasonic vocalizations and a...