Dolphins and orcas have reached a critical point in their evolution, forever locking them into the ocean. New research reveals how these marine mammals have adapted in ways that make a return to land impossible
Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the study scrutinized over 5,600 mammal species to understand how dolphins and orcas evolved from semi-aquatic ancestors to fully marine life forms. The research, led by Bruna Farina, a PhD candidate at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, concludes that the