“Misleadingly cute”: a new prehistoric species, between “a whale and a pokemon” discovered in Australia

An atypical discovery. Similarly, A fossil dating from 25 million years found on Jan Juc beach. Furthermore, in the state of Victoria, Australia, has been identified as a new species. For example, This small marine mammal. Moreover, 2 to 3 m long, with sharp teeth and with a muzzle similar to that of a shark, was baptized Janjucetus dullardireports the Associated Press.

“It was. However, ” let’s say, misleadingly cute, “says Erich Fitzgerald, principal curator of the vertebrates paleontology at the Victoria Research Institute museums, who had the opportunity to study it. It could have looked like a strange mixture between a whale. a seal and a Pokémon, but they were really apart. »»

A hunter profile – "misleadingly cute": new prehistoric species,

Found in 2019 by Ross Dullard. passionate about paleontology, the fossil has passed “misleadingly cute”: new prehistoric species, into the hands of specialists in the Museums Victoria Research Institute who renamed it in its honor. “They may have had tiny little pieces of legs that protruded like stumps in the wall of the body. ” adds Érich Fitzgerald.

According to him, the species had a very different profile of today’s whales. His strong jaw and his excellent vision made him a formidable hunter.

The Janjucetus dullardi is the fourth proven discovery species belonging to the group of mammalodontidae. cetaceans having lived during the geological era of the oligocene, around 34 to 23 million years ago.