Talk:Ambulocetus

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[edit] Article deficiencies

When the ambulocetus lived? How many million years ago exactly? Verdi1 18:20, 8 May 2006 (UTC)

According to the Wiki's Cetecean Evolution article, its ancestor species lived 52 millions years ago, and its successor 45 millions years ago. So sometimes between those dates - split the difference and say 48.5 million years ago ;) . Doctor Atomic 05:05, 3 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Underwater hearing

“Ambulocetus did not have external ears. To detect prey on land and in the water, they may have lowered their heads to the ground and felt for vibrations.”

“…and it [ambulocetus] shared ear structure with whales, enabling it to hear well underwater”

Don’t these two statements contradict to each other? Verdi1 18:20, 8 May 2006 (UTC)

Changed the first statement to "To detect prey on land, they may have lowered their heads to the ground and felt for vibrations." Ambulocetus did lack external ears, instead it had a fatty hollow in its jaw that picked up vibrations, just like whales. Unless living whales routinely lower their heads to the seafloor in order to hear, the original statement is not accurate. 71.217.114.221 03:08, 21 January 2007 (UTC)
The illustration that's adapted from the Nov. 2001 issue of National Geographic shows it incorrectly with ears then. Maybe the picture should be removed. 69.226.74.4 02:08, 26 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Johannes Thewissen

Is he really an anthropologist? Beside he dug out remains of ancient whale, he has too many publications on evolution of whales (not humans)? Who is that Mr. Thewissen at all? What is his nationality; in what year he dug out ambulocetus? Without all these the article seems incomplete. Verdi1 18:20, 8 May 2006 (UTC)

He may be listed as an anthropologist by mistake--I often hear people say that archaeologists are the ones who dig up dinosaur fossils, it seems that people regularly get their ancient sciences confused, or simply don't know that there is a branch of science dedicated to extinct animals (whenever I mention paleontology to someone, their eyes go all glassy like I've just started speaking a foreign language). I really don't think the man's nationality has any bearing on the subject at hand, however. 71.217.114.221 03:03, 21 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Habitat preferences

So this animal is known to have tolerated both fresh and saline water, and its fossils were discovered in what used to be a coastal area. Could it be that Ambulocetus lived in an estuarine environment? 71.217.114.221 17:48, 24 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fossils found

How many fossils were found? Exactly which bones were found? Please include this information or point me to where I can find it. Thank you. --Frankypenner 14:00, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

I agree, this article is a great summary of conclusions but does not present enough findings, facts, or where to find them.

[edit] Fossils found

The fossils that were found are quite inconclusive and the article is based on supposition and artists impressions. The following link will show what fossils were actually discovered. http://www.answersingenesis.org/tj/v8/i1/whale.asp —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.152.29.72 (talk) 16:12, 5 March 2008 (UTC)

That is a lie. The specimen, as of 2001, is reasonably complete and includes the whole pelvis. Answers in Genesis is just doing doing what it typically does: spreading misinformation. Here's the truth: http://members.cox.net/ardipithecus/evol/lies/lie030.html 68.43.29.125 (talk) 19:52, 16 April 2008 (UTC)