Skull found on Australian coast turns out to be 26-million-year-old ancient whale
Measuring just over two metres in length, this juvenile 'baby whale' sported a short snout, large forward-facing eyes, and a formidable set of slicing teeth, hinting at its role as a nimble hunter in the warm, shallow seas of ancient Victoria.The fossil's scientific significance was quickly recognised, leading Dullard to donate it to Museums Victoria for detailed study. 'Ross' discovery has unlocked an entire chapter of whale evolution we've never seen before,' said Dr Erich Fitzgerald, senior curator of vertebrate palaeontology and lead researcher.The species was named in honour of Dullard's contribution, underscoring the critical role of public engagement in scientific breakthroughs.Published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, the research places Janjucetus dullardi within the mammalodontid family, early whales that thrived only during the Oligocene Epoch, roughly 30–23 million years ago. This marks only the third mammalodontid species found in Victoria and the fourth worldwide, with this specimen uniquely preserving both ear bones and teeth.Advanced microCT scans revealed intricate inner ear structures, including the cochlea, providing clues to how these whales sensed and hunted underwater.'This fossil opens a window into how ancient whales grew and evolved, showing us a 'shark-like' version of baleen whales—small and deceptively cute, but certainly not harmless,' said Ruairidh Duncan, PhD student and study co-author.The discovery not only illuminates southeast Australia's importance as a hotspot for early whale evolution but also offers hints about how marine life might adapt to today's changing climate.As new discoveries await along Victoria's coastline, Museums Victoria continues to explore both recently uncovered and long-neglected specimens, ensuring the story of whale evolution is far from complete.'Our collections are not just about the past, they're shaping the future of science,' said Museums Victoria CEO Lynley Crosswell, celebrating a milestone that continues to rewrite natural history.- EndsMust Watch
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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
26-million-year-old whale skull fossil found, sheds light on ancient marine life
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists from Monash University and Museums Victoria have unearthed a 26-million-year-old whale skull at Jan Juc Beach in Victoria, Australia. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The fossil belongs to a newly identified species, Janjucetus dullardi , a small but fierce predator from the Oligocene epoch. According to the research published on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 in the , the whale specimen (Janjucetus dullardi) represents a juvenile or subadult individual, estimated to be about 7 feet (2.1 meters) in length. Unlike modern baleen whales that filter-feed, Janjucetus had sharp teeth and large eyes, indicating it actively hunted prey like fish and squid. The fossil is exceptionally well-preserved, including the skull, ear bones, and teeth, rare features that offer vital insights into whale evolution . This species represents a key stage between land-dwelling ancestors and fully aquatic whales, helping scientists understand how early whales adapted to life in the ocean. The discovery not only sheds light on the evolutionary shift from toothed predators to filter feeders, but also provides a rare glimpse into ancient marine ecosystems. It highlights southern Australia's importance in understanding the rich history of life in prehistoric oceans. How the whale skull fossil was discovered Scientists have revealed a 26-million-year-old whale skull fossil found in 2019 by fossil enthusiast Ross Dullard at Jan Juc Beach, Victoria, Australia. The fossil, embedded in ancient marine sediments, belongs to a newly identified species named Janjucetus dullardi, a small but fierce predator from the Oligocene epoch. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Unlike modern baleen whales that filter-feed, Janjucetus had sharp teeth and large eyes, indicating it actively hunted prey such as fish and squid. Measuring just 2–3 meters in length, it was much smaller than today's whales but well-adapted for predation in the warm, subtropical seas of its time. The fossil's exceptional preservation, including parts of the skull, teeth, and ear bones, offers paleontologists an unprecedented look into early whale anatomy. Detailed examination of its jaw structure, sensory organs, and hearing system provides valuable insight into the evolutionary transition from land-dwelling mammals to fully aquatic whales. This discovery significantly advances our understanding of whale evolution and ancient marine ecosystems. What the whale skull fossil reveals about anatomy In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have unveiled a 26-million-year-old whale skull fossil, found in 2019 by fossil enthusiast Ross Dullard at Jan Juc Beach in Victoria, Australia. The fossil belongs to a newly identified species, Janjucetus dullardi, a small but powerful predator from the Oligocene epoch. Unlike modern baleen whales, Janjucetus had large forward-facing eyes, indicating sharp vision for hunting, and a jaw lined with sharp teeth suited for catching fish and other marine animals. Measuring 2–3 meters in length, it was much smaller than today's whales but well-adapted for life as an agile marine hunter. Exceptionally preserved, the fossil includes parts of the skull, teeth, and ear bones. These features reveal early hearing adaptations, helping researchers understand how ancient whales detected prey underwater. By studying this skull, scientists gain rare insight into the evolutionary shift from active predation to filter feeding, and into the behavior, anatomy, and ecology of early whales in prehistoric oceans. Why this whale skull fossil matters for evolution The whale skull fossil of Janjucetus dullardi is key to understanding early whale evolution. As part of the mammalodontid lineage, this species illustrates the diversity of feeding strategies in ancient oceans. The fossil shows how whales adapted from land mammals to aquatic predators with specialized hunting features. Examining the whale skull helps researchers trace evolutionary steps toward modern whales, highlighting the shift from active predation to filter feeding. Fossils like this illuminate the ecological pressures that shaped marine life millions of years ago. The broader importance of fossil whale skulls Discoveries like this fossil whale skull highlight the value of fossils in studying life's history. Whale skulls are rarely preserved due to oceanic erosion, making this find exceptionally significant. Fossils allow scientists to analyze skull morphology, sensory adaptations, and feeding strategies in detail. By studying ancient whale fossils, researchers can better understand how whales responded to environmental changes over millions of years and trace the evolutionary lineage of today's marine giants. The 26-million-year-old whale skull fossil of Janjucetus dullardi is a milestone in paleontology. Its well-preserved skull, teeth, and ear bones provide a window into the life of ancient predatory whales and their adaptations. Studying this fossil enhances our understanding of early whales, their hunting behaviors, and their ecological roles. Ongoing research into fossils like this continues to illuminate the complex history of marine life and the evolutionary path that led to the majestic whales we see in our oceans today. Also read|
NDTV
2 days ago
- NDTV
This Whale Species Was Smaller Than A Bed. Fossil Found On Australia Beach
Wellington, New Zealand: Long before whales were majestic, gentle giants, some of their prehistoric ancestors were tiny, weird and feral. A chance discovery of a 25-million-year-old fossil on an Australian beach has allowed paleontologists to identify a rare, entirely new species that could unlock mysteries of whale evolution. Researchers this week officially named Janjucetus dullardi, a cartoonish creature with bulging eyes the size of tennis balls, in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. Unlike today's whales, the juvenile specimen was small enough to fit in a single bed. Boasting fiendish teeth and a shark-like snout, however, this oddball of the ocean was nasty, mean and built to hunt. 'It was, let's say, deceptively cute,' said Erich Fitzgerald, senior curator of vertebrate paleontology at Museums Victoria Research Institute, and one of the paper's authors. 'It might have looked for all the world like some weird kind of mash-up between a whale, a seal and a Pokémon but they were very much their own thing.' The rare discovery of the partial skull, including ear bones and teeth, was made in 2019 on a fossil-rich stretch of coast along Australia's Victoria state. Jan Juc Beach, a cradle for some of the weirdest whales in history, is becoming a hotspot for understanding early whale evolution, Fitzgerald said. Few family trees seem stranger than that of Janjucetus dullardi, only the fourth species ever identified from a group known as mammalodontids, early whales that lived only during the Oligocene Epoch, about 34 to 23 million years ago. That marked the point about halfway through the known history of whales. The tiny predators, thought to have grown to 3 meters (10 feet) in length, were an early branch on the line that led to today's great baleen whales, such as humpbacks, blues and minkes. But the toothy ancestors with powerful jaws would have looked radically different to any modern species. 'They may have had tiny little nubbins of legs just projecting as stumps from the wall of the body,' said Fitzgerald. That mystery will remain tantalizingly unsolved unless a specimen is uncovered with more of its skeleton intact, which would be something of a miracle. Even the partial skull that allowed the initial identification this week was an astonishing discovery. Janjucetus dullardi was named by researchers after an amateur fossil hunter who doesn't mind its looks in the slightest. 'It's literally been the greatest 24 hours of my life,' said Ross Dullard, who discovered the skull while fossil hunting at Jan Juc Beach. After Wednesday's confirmation of the new species, the school principal walked like a rock star onto campus with 'high fives coming left, right and center,' he said. His friends and family are probably just relieved it's over. 'That's all they've heard from me for about the last six years,' he said. Dullard was on a regular low-tide hunt at Jan Juc the day he spotted something black protruding from a cliff. Poking it dislodged a tooth. He knew enough to recognize it was unlikely to belong to a dog or a seal. 'I thought, geez, we've got something special here,' he said. Dullard sent photos to Museums Victoria, where Fitzgerald saw them and immediately suspected a new species. Confirming the find was another matter. This was the first mammalodontid to be identified in Australia since 2006 and only the third on record in the country. Fossils of sufficient quality, with enough of the right details preserved to confirm uniqueness, aren't common. 'Cetaceans represent a fairly miniscule population of all life,' Fitzgerald said. Millions of years of erosion, scavengers and ocean currents take their toll on whale skeletons too. 'It's only the chosen few, the vast minority of all whales that have ever lived and died in the oceans over millions of years, that actually get preserved as fossils,' he added. Finds such as Janjucetus dullardi can unlock insights into how prehistoric whales ate, moved, behaved — and evolved. Researchers said the discoveries also helped to understand how ancient cetacean species adapted to warmer oceans, as they study how today's marine life might respond to climate change. Meanwhile, Dullard planned to host a fossil party this weekend, featuring cetacean-themed games and whale-shaped treats in jello, to celebrate his nightmare Muppet find, finally confirmed. 'That's taken my concentration for six years,' he said. 'I've had sleepless nights. I've dreamt about this whale.'
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
‘Weird mash-up of whale, seal and Pokémon': New ‘nightmare Muppet' fossil sheds light on evolution; tiny predator had shark-like jaws, bulging eyes
Long before whales became the gentle giants of today, some of their ancestors were small, fierce, and strange. A chance find on an Australian beach has revealed a rare, entirely new species, Janjucetus dullardi , that could unlock new clues about whale evolution . The 25-million-year-old juvenile specimen, small enough to fit in a single bed, was identified in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. It had bulging, tennis-ball-sized eyes, a shark-like snout, and sharp teeth designed for hunting. 'It was, let's say, deceptively cute,' said Erich Fitzgerald, senior curator of vertebrate paleontology at Museums Victoria. 'It might have looked like some weird mash-up between a whale, a seal and a Pokémon, but they were very much their own thing.' The partial skull, including ear bones and teeth, was found in 2019 along Victoria's Jan Juc Beach, a site known for unusual whale fossils. Janjucetus dullardi is only the fourth species ever identified in the mammalodontid group, early whales that lived during the Oligocene Epoch, about 34–23 million years ago. These predators, around three metres long, were an early branch of the lineage that led to modern baleen whales, but looked radically different. 'They may have had tiny little nubbins of legs just projecting as stumps,' Fitzgerald said, a mystery that will remain unless a more complete skeleton is found. The species name honours Ross Dullard, the amateur fossil hunter who spotted something black protruding from a cliff during a low-tide search. When he poked it, a tooth fell out. 'I thought, geez, we've got something special here,' he said. Museums Victoria confirmed this week it was a new species. Dullard, a school principal, said the news was 'the greatest 24 hours of my life,' describing rock-star treatment at work with 'high fives coming left, right and centre.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo This is the first mammalodontid found in Australia since 2006 and only the third in the country. Whale fossils of this quality are rare because most skeletons are lost to erosion, scavengers, and currents over millions of years. 'It's only the chosen few… that actually get preserved as fossils,' Fitzgerald noted. Researchers say Janjucetus dullardi could help reveal how early whales fed, moved, and adapted to ancient warm oceans, insights that could inform how modern marine life responds to climate change. Dullard plans to mark the occasion with a 'fossil party' featuring cetacean-themed games and whale-shaped jello, to celebrate his nightmare Muppet find. 'I've had sleepless nights,' he admitted. 'I've dreamt about this whale.'
