PaleoArt: Early Cetacean (circa 48 MYA)

Sequential renderings of an early cetacean (whale) around 48 million years ago from India/Pakistan. 

This animal (loosely based off Ambulocetus and Rodhocetus) embodies much of the transitional morphology of later, fully-aquatic whales that still carries vestigial elements of its terrestrial-based ancestry, such as webbed limbs (with hooves), short fur and transitional dorsal nostrils (based here upon the whales' closest living relative, the hippopotamus). Its fleshy, flexible front lips are similar to that of manatees and dugongs while the hide patterning (a sub-tropical take on a leopard seal) alludes to a damp, ruddy freshwater habitat that enables it (like crocodilians) to camouflage itself within murky water to hunt land-based prey. Created in Adobe PhotoShop.