Wednesday 26 September 2007

marine biology - Modern Whales with Vestigial legs Myth?

Yes there are several published sources (with photos) of whales born with protruding vestigial legs.



http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/bitstream/handle/2246/4849/N0009.pdf;jsessionid=55D6453968F5461B1B6BFF8D53C81F16?sequence=1



Modern Right Whales have rudimentary legs--completely inside their bodies.



"approaching the inquiry with the most skeptical determination, one cannot help being convinced, as the dissection goes on, that these rudiments [in the Right Whale] really are femur and tibia. The synovial capsule representing the knee-joint was too evident to be overlooked. An acetabular cartilage, synovial cavity, and head of femur, together represent the hip-joint. Attached to this femur is an apparatus of constant and strong ligaments, permitting and restraining movements in certain directions; and muscles are present, some passing to the femur from distant parts, some proceeding immediately from the pelvic bone to the femur, by which movements of the thigh-bone are performed; and these ligaments and muscles present abundant instances of exact and interesting adaptation. "



http://etb-whales.blogspot.com/2012/03/hind-limb-rudiments-on-modern-whales_1221.html

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