The modern study of the origins and evolution of the group Cetacea (whales and porpoises) began with a key work published in 1966 which named an archaic group of ungulates, the Mesonychids, as the ancestors of Cetacea. Since that time, the use of both morphological and molecular techniques have split systematists into two camps. Morphological and molecular data have led workers to believe that the closest extant relatives of Cetacea are Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates, although a few morphologists believe that it is the Perissodactyla, the odd-toed ungulates. Later molecular studies indicate that Cetaceans are not only closely related to Artiodactyla, but may be members of that group and further, that their closest relative may be the Hippopotamus. Although the Hippopotamus hypothesis is controversial, the evidence supporting it is compelling. The idea merits serious consideration, and it may be that the morphological evidence needs to be re-evaluated.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/45085 |
| Date | 07 September 2022 |
| Creators | Tuohy-Sheen, Elizabeth M. |
| Contributors | Dionne, Vincent E. |
| Source Sets | Boston University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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