Correct option is B
The fossil found in 2007 in Kashmir, India, was identified as Indohyus, a deer-like animal that is considered a significant terrestrial ancestor of modern whales.Indohyus belongs to the family Raoellidae, an extinct group of herbivorous mammals. This animal lived approximately 48 million years ago, during the Eocene epoch. The fossil remains revealed characteristics that strongly link Indohyus to the evolutionary lineage of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises).
Information Booster
Whale Evolution and the Role of Indohyus:
- Modern cetaceans trace their lineage back to a group of even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla), which includes animals like deer, cows, and pigs.
- The evolutionary sequence involves Indohyus, followed by Pakicetus (an early cetacean with partial aquatic adaptations), Ambulocetus (a walking whale), and later fully aquatic forms like Basilosaurus.
- Indohyus is particularly significant because it represents a transitional terrestrial phase that was largely herbivorous, emphasizing the gradual nature of this evolutionary process.
Additional Knowledge
Incorrect Options Explained:
(a) Jainosaurus:
Jainosaurus is a genus of titanosaurid dinosaurs that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now India. It is unrelated to the evolutionary lineage of whales, as it predates mammals by millions of years.(c) Rajasaurus:
Rajasaurus is a genus of theropod dinosaurs that lived in India during the Late Cretaceous. It was a carnivorous dinosaur unrelated to cetaceans or terrestrial mammals.(d) Indosuchus:
Indosuchus is another genus of theropod dinosaurs discovered in India. Like Rajasaurus, it is completely unrelated to whales or the evolutionary transition from terrestrial mammals to aquatic life.
