Feet Like Sheep & Hearing with Their Head: The Very Strange Evolution of Whales

Like all mammals, whales evolved from small, insect-eating, terrestrial mammals. But no other group of mammals has diverged so radically from their shrew-like ancestors in structure, lifestyle, and physical function. Whales are the embodiment of evolution at its most bizarre, breathtaking, and brilliant.

So how did this happen? What evidence do we have for their surprising origins? Who are their closest living relatives—and how do we know?

In this talk, we’ll explore what makes whales mammals, how their bodies have adapted so marvelously to life in the water, and what sensory breakthrough was most critical to their survival. Along the way, we’ll uncover what whale evolution reveals about adaptation, survival, and the weird, winding paths of natural history.

Dr. Winston C. Lancaster was born and raised in Montgomery. He earned a B.S. in Zoology from Auburn University, an M.S. in Vertebrate Paleontology from Louisiana State University, and a Ph.D. in…