0
   

Whale surface blowholes compared to skull orifices.

 
 
2ba4t
 
Reply Mon 15 Aug, 2011 02:39 pm
Whale surface blowholes compared to skull orifices.
No one in the world has even tried to answer this!!
What are the relative positionings of the actual surface blowhole of whales when compared to the specific location of the nasal orifice(s) in the bone of the skull.
The sperm whale has an interesting anomaly in that its skull has a nasal skull hole in front of the eyes ( similar to the extinct aetiocetus ) leading to a blow hole right at the front of its head (muzzle).
Why did its nasal skull hole not move back to the front of its skull in line with its surface blow hole which presumably having moved back ancestrally, then moved forward as the sperm oil and huge melon structures evolved.
I need a clear diagram showing the position of the nasal orifice in the skulls of different modern whales and if poss the aetiocetus and other protowhales.
Simply cannot find this anywhere in details showing exactly the nasal skull holes compared to the eyes.
  • Topic Stats
  • Top Replies
  • Link to this Topic
Type: Question • Score: 0 • Views: 1,804 • Replies: 1
No top replies

 
farmerman
 
  1  
Reply Mon 15 Aug, 2011 04:16 pm
@2ba4t,
You should get a copy of 'The Treatise of Vertebrate Paleontology" and compare the skeletal and skull configurations of the ear and nares from paleocoetus through to the various species of modern whales. Its worth a convincing look see for yourself. If youre a student you can then raise some questions of how these animals retain the basic features during their evolution but these various features serve entirely new purposes.

Too bad we dont have the genes of the paleocoetus or amblyocoetus, wed be able to look at the genes that are turned "off" or "on" and where new genes occur.
0 Replies
 
 

Related Topics

 
  1. Forums
  2. » Whale surface blowholes compared to skull orifices.
Copyright © 2024 MadLab, LLC :: Terms of Service :: Privacy Policy :: Page generated in 0.03 seconds on 04/25/2024 at 04:45:31