A 26-million-year-old fossil found by a local on Victoria’s surf coast has led to the finding of a new species of ancient whale.
Ross Dullard found a partial skull with ear bones and teeth while walking along the beach near Jan Juc in 2019.
He donated it to Museums Victoria Research Institute, where it was studied by scientists and found to be a new species, which they named Janjucetus dullardi in Dullard’s honour.
The discovery provides new insights into the early evolution of baleen whales.
The juvenile ‘baby whale’ species belonged to a group of early whales that lived around 30 to 23 million years ago.
Much smaller than modern whales, researchers say Janjucetus dullardi were predators with large forward-facing eyes, razor sharp teeth and a body about the size of a dolphin.
“Imagine the shark-like version of a baleen whale – small and deceptively cute, but definitely not harmless,” Museums Victoria Research Institute PhD student Ruairidh Duncan said.
“Ross’ discovery has unlocked an entire chapter of whale evolution we’ve never seen before,” Museums Victoria Research Institute senior curator of vertebrate palaeontology Dr Erich Fitzgerald said.
“It’s a reminder that world-changing fossils can be found in your own backyard.”
The newfound species is only the found known mammalodontid species in the world, three of which were found in Victoria.
“This region was once a cradle for some of the most unusual whales in history, and we’re only just beginning to uncover their stories,” Fitzgerald said.
The research team hopes Victoria’s coastline can bring more fossil discoveries in coming years.
