Fossil found on Victorian beach leads to discovery of 'deceptively cute' whale species

A 26-million-year-old fossil recovered by a section connected Victoria's surf seashore has led to nan uncovering of a caller type of ancient whale.

Ross Dullard recovered a partial skull pinch receptor bones and teeth while stepping on nan formation adjacent Jan Juc successful 2019.

He donated it to Museums Victoria Research Institute, wherever it was studied by scientists and recovered to beryllium a caller species, which they named Janjucetus dullardi successful Dullard's honour.

The find provides caller insights into nan early improvement of baleen whales.

The juvenile 'baby whale' type belonged to a group of early whales that lived astir 30 to 23 cardinal years ago.

Much smaller than modern whales, researchers opportunity Janjucetus dullardi were predators pinch ample forward-facing eyes, razor crisp teeth and a assemblage astir nan size of a dolphin.

"Imagine nan shark-like type of a baleen whale – mini and deceptively cute, but decidedly not harmless," Museums Victoria Research Institute PhD student Ruairidh Duncan said.

"Ross' find has unlocked an full section of whale improvement we've ne'er seen before," Museums Victoria Research Institute elder curator of vertebrate palaeontology Dr Erich Fitzgerald said.

"It's a reminder that world-changing fossils tin beryllium recovered successful your ain backyard."

The newfound type is only nan recovered known mammalodontid type successful nan world, 3 of which were recovered successful Victoria.

"This region was erstwhile a cradle for immoderate of nan astir different whales successful history, and we're only conscionable opening to uncover their stories," Fitzgerald said.

The investigation squad hopes Victoria's coastline tin bring much fossil discoveries successful coming years.

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