New early whale uncovered

An early whale species is named from a 25-million-year-old fossil found on an Australian beach, offering new clues about whale origins.

This prehistoric whale had razor teeth and bulging eyes

Paleontologists have named Janjucetus dullardi from a partial skull found in 2019 along Jan Juc Beach on Victoria’s coast. The tiny juvenile, about 3 meters long, had bulging eyes and razor teeth with a shark like snout, a stark contrast to modern baleen whales.

Janjucetus dullardi belongs to the mammalodontids, an early whale group that lived during the Oligocene, roughly 34 to 23 million years ago. The discovery sheds light on how ancient cetaceans ate, moved, and adapted as oceans warmed over millions of years, and it underscores how rare and valuable fossils are in tracing the long path from mixed predators to today’s baleen whales. The find also shows the important role of local beaches and amateur collectors in science, while reminding researchers that a single skull can unlock new chapters in the story of whale evolution.

The find highlights how Australia remains a key site for understanding early whale history. It also shows the science in action: careful field work, cautious confirmation, and the thrill that comes when a single fragment reshapes a branch of the family tree. As oceans change again today, such fossils offer a window into how marine mammals adapt over long time scales. Still, a single skull can only tell a small part of the story; the full picture depends on more discoveries and careful, patient analysis.

Highlights

As more fossils surface, the story of whale origins will continue to unfold