The Basilosaurus was an apex predator of the Eocene seas. Despite its reptilian name, they were marine mammals like whales. It is known for its prominent and intimidating teeth, which it used to hunt fish, sharks, and likely marine mammals. The Basilosaurus was long and slender, ranging between about 50-65 feet full grown. An interesting feature of their anatomy was their vestigial hind legs, which were not even attached to the skeleton and completely useless to the animal itself. Those legs do, however, tell paleontologists more about whale evolution, proving that whales’ ancestors once walked on land before returning to the water.
The Basilosaurus was an apex predator of the Eocene seas. Despite its reptilian name, they were marine mammals like whales. It is known for its prominent and intimidating teeth, which it used to hunt fish, sharks, and likely marine mammals. The Basilosaurus was long and slender, ranging between about 50-65 feet full grown. An interesting feature of their anatomy was their vestigial hind legs, which were not even attached to the skeleton and completely useless to the animal itself. Those legs do, however, tell paleontologists more about whale evolution, proving that whales’ ancestors once walked on land before returning to the water.