this post was submitted on 16 Nov 2024
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Science Memes

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submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 35 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I think this image on the Felidae wiki sums it up pretty well: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felidae#Phylogeny

Note that everything in this graph is extinct, except the 2 circled subfamilies at the bottom.

EDIT: I basically know nothing about biology and paleontology and am just an amateur wiki-binger, but it seems that the half-whale was further away philogenetically from any live mammals.

I'm guessing that the fact that this is not just some bones but a very well-preserved mummy is what makes this find special.