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All dolphins, whales, and porpoises are related . Fossil evidence from the early Eocene epoch, indicate that the early dolphins or Protective were already aquatic 45-50 million years ago. However they bore little resemblance to the dolphins and whales we know today.

It has been suggested that a primitive early mammal called Mesonychidae roamed across the planes of Africa during the early Eocene Epoch. Although long extinct today, during their time these early mammals evolved into many ecological niches and ranged in size from cat to bear It has also been suggested they may also be the antecedent of the modern horse. By comparing the fossil structures of the jaw and teeth of mesonychidae with the protocetidae, palaeontologists believe that groups living on the coast began spending more time foraging for food in the swamps and ocean. Over time they may have become increasingly dependent of the ocean's abundance and passed through an amphibious stage before becoming committed to the ocean. One can imagine that during the transition between land and ocean, the primitive dolphin was like the seals we see today; feeding in the ocean while coming back to land for breeding.

Fossil dolphins can be traced through time by the changes in their teeth. Once in the ocean, it took millions of years for what is known as true cetaceans to develop. By 40 million years ago was the Dorudontinae. These creatures showed telescoping of the skull, yet their nostrils were still on the snout although further back than Protocetidae. Eventually during the upper Oligocene, about 30 million years ago the early dolphins split into the two main divisions known today: the toothed whales, (Odontoceti) and the baleen whales (Mysticet). Delphie, the group from which modern dolphins arose, began to appear in the early Miocene -25 million years ago.

Because the dolphins evolutionary line diverged some 50 million years ago, their physical structure had time to develop independently from terrestrial mammals. For instance, the fossil record indicates that there was a stage when the animals were amphibious. However, this record also shows that once the early dolphins decided to be aquatic, it didn't take long for the bones of the hind limbs to disappear altogether.

The obvious streamlining of a dolphin's bodies caused by living in water has produced several other modifications to the animal's physiology. The thickened body and raised head has caused the vertebrae of the cetacean neck to become fused. Instead of the major blood supply to the brain running up the outside of the neck, as in land animals, it passes through an artery within the fused vertebrae. This insures a constant supply of blood when the dolphin dives to extreme depths in the ocean.

Because of the dolphin's and whale's elongated skull, it is easy to think the nostril or blow hole has moved behind the skull. In fact the pronounced dome shaped structure sitting in front of the blow hole is a fatty tissue called the melon and corresponds to our upper lip. The melon acts as a lens to focus sound when the dolphin produces high pitched clicks for echolocation. For many years it was thought that the melon also receive the sound as it bounced back, giving the dolphin a sonar image. However, it is now known that a small bone underneath the chin called the pan bone receives the sonic report and stimulates the brain via the inner ear. It is also thought that the dolphin's teeth will vibrate in harmony with a targeted object's echo giving the dolphin more information.

The melon exists in all dolphins and whales, however the larger whales are not known to have the echolocation ability. It alternately could be used to send or receive ultra low sound waves that will travel thousands of miles through water. This fatty tissue is particularly oily in the whale and has been prized for many centuries by perfumeries and cosmetic companies- even after synthetic compounds have been discovered. It is unknown how many whales have died for human vanity.

After all these modifications the dolphin has still retained the main characteristic which makes it a mammal. The female has teats buried within her genital grove from which a baby dolphin will suckle. In an aquatic environment the mother must squirt the milk into her baby's mouth as it nuzzles the pouch with its beak.

Eurhinodelphis, the long-snout ed dolphin, was a common sight in the ancient mid to late Miocene seas. In fact, Eurhinodelphis bossi, which reaches 6 to 7 feet in length, may possibly be the most common cetacean found in the Miocene Calvert formation. Eurhinodelphis fossils have been found along both the east and west sides of the Miocene Atlantic Ocean, from Maryland and Virginia to France and Belgium

Like all porpoises and dolphins, Eurhinodelphis belong to the Odontocete Order, the toothed whales. Specifically, Eurhinodelphis belongs to a Family of primitive dolphins called Rhabdosteidae, which was traditionally called Eurhinodelphinidae. Members from this Family can be found in Miocene deposits throughout the world including North and South America, Australia, and Europe, as they appeared to be very successful in the Miocene. This primitive dolphin family, ranging in size of 6 to 9 feet in length, is characterized by their incredibly long snouts.

At any rate, by the end of the Miocene, these strange looking Rhabdosteidae dolphins, which were as common as the dolphins one sees at a beach today, were becoming extinct. They were being replaced by the evolution of the modern dolphins, which are still with us today.

Click here to learn more about fossils

Your Choice $15.00 you get a combination of a dolphin Jaw, Dolphin Tooth or a inner ear bone. The fossil material is from the mines of North Carolina as well as the Gulf of Mexico and rivers in Florida

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