Latest fossil find casts light on whale ancestors
Scientists are excited about the latest fossil find which may provide an new insight into the evolution of baleen whales (such as the blue whale).
The remains of the whale, thought to be about 4 million years old, were discovered in early September in a hillside in Scotts Valley in California. The finding is rare as the 25ft whale was largely intact. This will help enable researchers to get a better understanding of the whale and how it differs from its present-day cousins.
The whale has now been removed from the ground for further examination.
Tail fluke of a humpback, a modern day baleen whale © Duncan Murrell
