Alana and Annasimone

Timeline 47 million years ago: - Alligator like feet - Fed in the water metres long - Forelimbs and hind limbs for walking - No tail flukes 48 million years ago: metres long - Nostrils were far forward - Forelimbs and hindlimbs function for walking - No tail flukes 46 million years ago: - Sea lion figure - Spent some time on land - 3 metres long - function for walking and swimming - Large hind limbs - No tail flukes 37 million years ago: - Completely aquatic metres long - Nostrils further back on skull - Forelimbs have become flippers - Elongation of the trunk - Reduced hind limbs - Tail flukes Present day: - Streamlined body - Insultating layer of blubber - Flippers as fore limbs - Hind legs are interbal vestiges - Tail is flattended horixontal flukes - No external neck - Large head and wide mouth 34 million years ago: - Completely aquatic metres long - Teeth reduced - First evidence of baleen for filter feeding - Nostrils further back on skull - Elbows immobile

Since whales evolved from land mammals, at first their nostrils were positioned far forward.

At one point, a mutation occurred, producing at least one whale with “nostrils” positioned further back along the snout. Nostrils

This mutation helped that whale thrive in a sea environment by easing the process of surfacing for air.

The mutated whale survived, thrived and reproduced, passing on this favourable characteristic to its offspring.

This mutation became more common among the population

Modern whales are now born with “nostrils” (blowholes) on their backs