Why are dolphins and ichthyosaurs similar?

Gradually sharks, ichthyosaurs, and dolphins came to look alike because natural selection favored one particular shape over all others for rapid movement through the seas. Figure legend: Convergent Evolution. Although very different species, the dolphin and the icthyasaur look alike.

Are dolphins believed to be very intelligent?

What is intelligence? Dolphins demonstrate the ability to do all of these things and most scientists agree that dolphins are very intelligent. They are notoriously talented mimics and quick learners; they demonstrate self-awareness, problem-solving, and empathy, innovation, teaching skills, grief, joy and playfulness.

Are ichthyosaurs related to dolphins?

Although they superficially have a similar shape and they exploit similar environmental niches, we know that ichthyosaurs are reptiles and thus they are not dolphins (mammals) nor sharks (fish).

Why do dolphins have a similar body shape to fish?

a. Analogous-Dolphins are mammals and fish are not, thus their evolutionary paths are quite separate. They have similar body shapes because of their similar environment. Homologous-Dolphins and fish are both vertebrates, thus they have a similar recent evolutionary history, causing them to have similar body shapes.

Do fish and dolphins share a common ancestor?

We know that dolphins and sharks are not closely related, and they didn’t inherit their similar body shapes from a common ancestor. Their streamlined bodies, dorsal fins and flippers are the result of convergent evolution.

Can dolphins evolve?

Dolphins could’ve become planet’s dominant species if they had hands: study. Dolphins have long been recognized as being highly intelligent and sentient creatures, but a new study suggests they could have gone so far as to become the dominant species on our planet — if only they evolved opposable thumbs.

What is an ichthyosaur related to?

ichthyosaur, any member of an extinct group of aquatic reptiles, most of which were very similar to porpoises in appearance and habits. These distant relatives of lizards and snakes (lepidosaurs) were the most highly specialized aquatic reptiles, but ichthyosaurs were not dinosaurs.

What does the word ichthyosaur mean?

Definition of ichthyosaur : any of an order (Ichthyosauria) of extinct marine reptiles of the Mesozoic specialized for aquatic life by a streamlined body with a long snout, limbs reduced to small fins for steering, and a large lunate caudal fin. Other Words from ichthyosaur Example Sentences Learn More About …

Are dolphins and fish closely related?

Dolphins are mammals, not fish Also, dolphins are different than “dolphinfish,” which are also known as mahi-mahi. Like every mammal, dolphins are warm blooded. Unlike fish, who breathe through gills, dolphins breathe air using lungs. Dolphins must make frequent trips to the surface of the water to catch a breath.

Did ichthyosaurs predict the evolution of humans?

It implies that the evolution of human-like organisms is ultimately inevitable, or at least very likely, provided sufficient time is available. Ichthyosaurs appear to provide an excellent opportunity to test the extent of predictability of evolutionary processes.

How similar are whales and dolphins to ichthyosaurs?

They are known as cetaceans (dolphins and whales) and their overall similarity to ichthyosaurs is striking. A big win for the idea of evolutionary convergence?

Why do ichthyosaur have no gills?

Another indication of their terrestrial origin is their lack of gills. Like marine mammals, they had to draw oxygen from the atmosphere. When a baby ichthyosaur uncurled itself in preparation for birth, it instinctively oriented itself so that it passed out of the womb tail first.

What is the oldest ichthyosaur in the world?

Amongst the oldest known ichthyosaurs was Utatsusaurus, from the Lower Triassic of Japan. As in terrestrial reptiles, the pelvic girdle was attached to the spine, but no longer robustly enough to support the body’s weight.