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The Dolphin With Leftover Legs

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the pass-me-the-speech-center-of-the-brain dept.

ectotherm writes "Japanese scientists have captured a dolphin with vestigial legs. Evidence, it would seem, of a land-dwelling past and observable evolution." From the article: "Fishermen captured the four-finned dolphin alive off the coast of Wakayama prefecture (state) in western Japan on Oct. 28, and alerted the nearby Taiji Whaling Museum, according to museum director Katsuki Hayashi. Fossil remains show dolphins and whales were four-footed land animals about 50 million years ago and share the same common ancestor as hippos and deer. Scientists believe they later transitioned to an aquatic lifestyle and their hind limbs disappeared. Whale and dolphin fetuses also show signs of hind protrusions but these generally disappear before birth."

4 of 441 comments (clear)

  1. Self defense really. by kooky45 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The dolphins need hind legs to roundhouse the sharks with frickin' lasers on their heads.

  2. Far cry from legs by eclectro · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I read the article, and those aren't legs, they're fins.

    I will only believe that a dolphin has legs when it walks up to me and shakes my hand.

    --
    Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
  3. Another thing about Taiji, Japan by Wills · · Score: 5, Informative

    Taiji, Japan, is the site of the annual ritual dolphin massacre in which fishermen drive pods of dolphins into shallow coves and stab them with spears. You should see it. It is quite a sight. The sea water turns red with blood, and the air is filled with the extraordinary sounds of screaming dolphins (they literally seem to scream).

    --
    Scroogle
  4. should the vestigial limbs be removed.... by jemptymethod · · Score: 5, Funny

    that would be de-feeting the porpoise