A bizarre new toothed mysticete (Cetacea) from Australia and the early evolution of baleen whales

• Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
• Main Author: Fitzgerald, Erich M.G
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Royal Society 2006
• Subjects: Hydrurga; baleen whales; Hydrurga leptonyx; Leopard Seal
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2006.3664; https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspb.2006.3664; https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rspb.2006.3664

Extant baleen whales (Cetacea, Mysticeti) are all large filter-feeding marine mammals that lack teeth as adults, instead possessing baleen, and feed on small marine animals in bulk. The early evolution of these superlative mammals, and their unique feeding method, has hitherto remained enigmatic. He...