26-million-year-old whale skull fossil found, sheds light on ancient marine life

A 26-million-year-old whale skull, belonging to the newly identified Janjucetus dullardi, has been unearthed at Jan Juc Beach in Australia. This Oligocene-era predator, unlike modern baleen whales, possessed sharp teeth and large eyes, indicating an active hunting lifestyle. The remarkably preserved fossil offers crucial insights into whale evolution, particularly the transition from toothed predators to filter feeders.