For a protracted time, people believed that the hippopotamus was most closely related to the pig. This is because each animals have large bodies and similar foot structures. However, modern science has discovered rather more surprising family connections.
It seems that the closest living relatives of whales and dolphins are literally hippos. These two groups of animals belong to a special suborder called Whippomorpha. The name was created to explain the unique connection between these very different looking creatures.
Although whales live in deep oceans and hippos live in rivers, their shared history goes back hundreds of thousands of years. They are more much like their cousins than every other living species on Earth.
Genetic connection
Scientists used DNA research to find the reality about how these animals are related. According to PennState Eberly College of Science, genetic evaluation shows that hippos and whales share many DNA segments that other mammals don’t. This evidence is rather more reliable than simply taking a look at the form of the animal.
One study checked out specific genetic markers, called short interspersed elements (SINEs) and long interspersed elements (LINEs), that move around in DNA. These markers are present in the identical places in each whales and hippos. This suggests that they each inherited these markers from the identical ancestor.
Moreover, these two groups also share almost 11,000 similar genes. These genes help create a transparent map of their shared evolutionary history. This evidence is so strong that almost all scientists now agree that the pig isn’t the hippopotamus’s closest relative.
Even though they appear completely different, whales and hippos actually share many physical characteristics. The bodies of each animals are mostly hairless and have a thick layer of fat under their skin. This fat helps them stay warm and store energy while within the water.
Their internal organs are also very similar, akin to the multi-chambered stomach. Both animals have lungs shaped in a way that enables them to soak up air in a short time. This is a vital tool for mammals that spend loads of time underwater.
Another common feature is the way in which they seek advice from one another underwater. They each have large voice boxes that allow them to make loud, booming calls. These sounds can travel through water to assist them communicate with groups.
Shared evolutionary history
Whales and hippos share a standard ancestor that lived about 55 million years ago. This ancestor was a small deer-like creature that moved on 4 legs. Over hundreds of thousands of years, this one family split into two different directions.
One branch of the family moved completely out to sea and have become the whales we see today. The second branch stayed near the water and eventually became the trendy hippopotamus. Fossil discoveries akin to Indohyushave helped scientists fill within the gaps on this long history.
These two groups actually adapted to life within the water at different times. However, their aquatic features, akin to smooth skin, could have evolved individually. This implies that although they’re related, they’ve found their very own ways to survive in a moist environment.
