A Remarkable Case of External Hind Limbs in a Humpback Whale (1921) [pdf] | Hacker News Reader

A Remarkable Case of External Hind Limbs in a Humpback Whale (1921) [pdf]

digitallibrary.amnh.org

43 pointsfortran7715 comments

This was from British Columbia in 1920. “This particular whale was a female humpback of the average length, with elementary legs protruding from the body about 4 feet 2 inches” (Notes on the Occurrence of a Humpbacked Whale having Hind Legs)

I can barely tell what's going on in that photo, is there any clearer picture?

Nope. But at least they apologized:

> I enclose herewith three photographs showing the unusual development of the pelvic Rudiments in a whale captured at the Kyuquot Station last July, of which you have the bones. It is to be regretted that better pictures in evidence of this unprecedented development were not obtained.

Here's a dolphin found, more recently, with rear legs/fins

https://www.underwatertimes.com/news.php?article_id=31071605...

Or this: https://edwardtbabinski.us/whales/dolphin_limbs.jpg

Ok super dumb question but I thought the tail fin was basically the two feet fused together. I’m not sure why this picture has the extra fins on the body and a tail.

A whale is a mammal, and the tail of a whale is analogous to the tail of a dog, or cat, or otter, or other mammal with a tail.

The hind legs of whales essentially atrophied away as they evolved. Some whales have small vestigial limb bones sort of floating inside their lower abdomen.

Ah you’re right. Looks like seals are set up like I was describing though.

Yeah, the elephant seal in particular

Whales have vestigial bones of hind limbs, but are normally inside the body.

Yup. Unlike most sea creatures, the ancestors of whales used to live on land.

More info: https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evograms_0...

IIRC from reading Dawkins books, hippos are more closely related to whales than to any land animal.

Yes, but their last common ancestor was not much like either. Lots about the sequence of changes seems to be established now: http://www.eartharchives.org/articles/the-evolution-of-whale...

A couple of years ago I visited a whale exhibition at the natural history museum in London. They had skeletons and models showing the evolution of the whale from a land mammal. The shrinking of the legs/pelvis and eventual detachment from the spine was fascinating to see laid out.

I appreciate the "I know how this looks and sounds 'hoaxy,' but here's why I think I'm right" aspect by the author. (paraphrased of course)

Reply on news.ycombinator.com