
Dolphins are believed to have evolved from land animals.
About 45 million years ago, after dinosaurs disappeared from the earth, some
mammals left the land to live in the ocean. These evolved into whales,
dolphins, and porpoises. Scientists know this from fossils and because cetaceans
have a small section of unattached pelvic bone inside their bodies. Scientists
believe this unnecessary bone used to be a part of the bone structure needed
to support hind legs when the ancestors of modern whales walked on land. Modern
cetaceans don't need hind legs since they never go onto land for any reason.
They have adaptations, special body structures and behaviors, which enable
them to live their whole lives in the ocean.
Do dolphins live their whole life in the ocean?
