Sirenian evolution: Sea change

Apart from whales, sirenians (manatees and dugongs) are the only permanently aquatic mammals. A very early sirenian is known from the Eocene of Jamaica, but only from a skull. A new and different sirenian has now been discovered from the same site, this time associated with most of the rest of the skeleton. With all but the tip of the tail and the feet available, it is possible to visualize the evolution of these creatures from terrestrial ancestors, and to compare the process to that taking place in the whales at around the same time.

The earliest known fully quadrupedal sirenian
D. P. DOMNING
Nature 413, 625-627 (11 October 2001)
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11 October 2001 table of contents