Did Whales Come From The Land?

It’s hard to imagine a whale on land. And while we can distinguish between different species of whale, none of them have obvious characteristics that would help them out of the water. Yet here’s where it gets interesting: according to evolutionary theory whales, or their descendants at least, once walked on the earth.

It is thought that they may have evolved from a group of land mammals, the Mesonychids.

These claims are backed up by intermediate fossil evidence, and naturally they remain controversial. And we all know that many people question evolution, period.

Even so, whales are mammals. Are there any other mammals living in the oceans that breathe air, are warm blooded and give birth to live young?

These are partly the reason why we have such an affinity to these majestic creatures. Humans are drawn to love whales for several reasons, and one is because of how they rear their young.

With blue whales, a mother nurses her calf for about seven months, having been pregnant for almost a year. Unlike fishes, that commonly lay several eggs, pregnancy for these whales only happens every two to three years.

The calf is reared on its mother’s milk, again something that endears them to us. They are also a universal symbol of conservation. Hunted to near extinction, they represent how damaging we can be to nature unless we show it some respect.

Even if it is impossible to prove conclusively that whales came from the land, we can’t help but be intrigued by these gracious beasts.

Whale watching is a unique way to get closer to these fascinating creatures. It may not provide us the answer to our question, but it’s the ultimate gift certificate for a loved one who feels drawn to nature and its mysteries.