How are fossils important in explaining the morpholigcal gap between hippos and cetaceans? What do the fossils Indohyus, Ambulocetus, and Durodon tell us about the transition from "hippo like" animals to cetaceans?
Fossils play an important role in explaining the morphological gap between hippos and cetaceans. Fossils help in phylogenetic analysis between hippos and cetaceans. They help in to know that Cetaceans were related to the hippos. Both are like cousins. Fossils have indicated that hippos have originated from anthracotheres that are plant eating semi aquatic mammals.
Indohyus reveal that hippos have ear bones similar to the whales. Ambulocetus suggest that cetaceans evolved from land living mammals. Durodon reveal hind limb of cetaceans evolved from terrestrial mammal.
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