This recently discovered prehistoric species looked like … a Pokémon!

New discovery! Janjucetus dullardi is the scientific name given to this marine mammal which swam through the oceans there are more than 25 million years. A fossil was found on Jan Juc beach, in the state of Victoria (south-east of Australia). Paleontologists quickly have identified a so far unknown species.

Janjucetus dullardi was theWhale ancestor But much smaller. It is a marine mammal that could measure until 2 to 3 m long. The youngest did the size of an adult man. His eyes were bulging and was the size of a tennis ball. The species, qualified as rare by scientists, had sharp teeth and a Shark muzzle.

Unlike Current, peaceful and elegant whales, Janjucetus dullardi was “misleading“, As Erich Fitzgerald describes, principal conservative of the Paleontology of vertebrates at the Museum Victoria Research Institute, which is one of the researchers who have been able to Study the fossilized remains.

Before continuing that this species was “A strange mixture between a Whale, a seal and a Pokémonbut they were really apart.“According to experts, this marine mammal was far from being so peaceful May our magnificent modern whales. On the contrary, their ancestor was Aggressive and born to hunt. Thanks to a powerful jaw And an excellent vision, it was a formidable hunter.

The prehistoric species owes its name to Ross Dullardpassionate paleontology. He’s the one Find the animal’s skull in 2019 On the coasts of an Australian beach, known to be rich in fossil. After dislodged a tooth, The fossil hunter knew that it was not that of a seal or a dog but a prehistoric species.

He sent several photos to Victoria Museum where the curator, Érich Fitzgerald, has noted that indeed, it could be a new species. Janjucetus dullardi is there Fourth species analyzed belonging to the family of mammalodontidae ( cetaceans living in the geological era of the oligocenebetween 34 to 23 million years ago).

The first specimen belonging to the identified mammalodontidae group was discovered in Australia in 2006. This incredible discovery allows Understand how the whale to evolve over the centuries. Especially since it is very rare to find fossils of prehistoric marine mammals.

Scientists explain that this rarity is linked to Conservation conditions : millions of years of erosion, ocean currents and the scavengers, ravage fossilized remains marine animals, and perhaps even species still unknown …

Thanks to the skull of Janjucetus dullardithe researchers go learn more about food, The behavior and the mode of displacement of the ancestors of the whale. But above all, they go try to understand how prehistoric marine mammals have Suitable for warmer oceans in order to estimate whether current marine life can Survive with climate change.

References of the article:

Leprobaric, (15/08/2025), “Misleadingly cute”: a new prehistoric species, between “a whale and a pokemon” discovered in Australia

Charlotte Graham-McLay, AssociatedPressNews, (15/08/2025), Scientists discover an ancient whale with a Pokémon face and a predator bite