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What are dolphins closest relatives?
The closest living relatives of dolphins today are the even toed ungulates such as camels and cows with the humble hippopotamus being the closest living relative. The origin of dolphins and the origin of whales in general is the subject of much debate.
What do penguins and dolphins have in common?
They have a streamlined torpedo shape allowing for faster movement in water. Because many of the same characteristics are in both the penguin and dolphin but were arrived at via different evolutionary pathways, one would call this convergent evolution.
What are dolphins more related to?
Dolphins are descendants of land-dwelling mammals of the artiodactyl order (even-toed ungulates). They are related to the Indohyus, an extinct chevrotain-like ungulate, from which they split approximately 48 million years ago.
Can a dolphin eat a penguin?
Do Dolphins Eat Penguins? Dolphins usually avoid foods that are too large to swallow whole. Only larger dolphin species such as orcas will catch and eat penguins.
Why are hippos and dolphins related?
Analysis of the previously unknown, long-extinct animal also confirms that cetaceans — the group to which whales, dolphins and porpoises belong — are in fact the hippo’s closest living cousins. Yet the huge age gap between hippos and cetaceans in the fossil record left experts stumped.
What are whales cousins?
In fact, hippopotamus are actually whales’ closest “cousins”, and they’re much more closely related than you might guess. Based on their fossil record, scientists have determined that whales are related to land dwelling mammals that lived on Earth between 52 – 47 million years ago.
Sharks, dolphins, and penguins are not closely related, but all have converged on a streamlined body form because they swim through the water.
Why do seals mate with penguins?
It could be that they’re collectively realizing that the birds are easy targets as they look to vent the sexual frustration caused by mating season hormone spikes. It could be that females are hard to come by on these beaches, leaving young male seals looking for other outlets.
Are sharks and dolphins genetically similar?
We know that dolphins and sharks are not closely related, and they didn’t inherit their similar body shapes from a common ancestor. Their streamlined bodies, dorsal fins and flippers are the result of convergent evolution.
And penguins and dolphins are not only of different genera, they are of different classes of animal. Penguins belong to the class called Aves, which is birds. There are 17 species of penguin. Dolphins belong to the class Mammalia, which is mammals. There are 40 species of dolphin. Yes, they are related, but very distantly.
How are flippers of Penguin and Dolphin homologous or analogous?
Flippers of penguin and dolphin have a similar function (helps in swimming) but different origin so they are called analogous organs. Penguin and dolphin are not closely related to each other but evolved similar traits (flippers) which represent convergent evolution. Was this answer helpful?
How many species of penguins are there in the world?
Penguins belong to the class called Aves, which is birds. There are 17 species of penguin. Dolphins belong to the class Mammalia, which is mammals. There are 40 species of dolphin. Yes, they are related, but very distantly.
We know that dolphins and sharks are not closely related, and they didn’t inherit their similar body shapes from a common ancestor. Their streamlined bodies, dorsal fins and flippers are the result of convergent evolution.