Whale & Dolphin and Splash magazines asked me to illustrate these fun spot illustrations, to go into a double page spread explaining to kids how the whale evolved from prehistoric times to its current modern form
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Above is the "Rodhocetus". It was an otter-like prehistoric whale that had a flexible spine and is the earliest known mammal to swim using mainly their tail for propulsion
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Ambulocetus means the 'walking whale'. They could walk on their short legs and swim using their powerful tails and big, paddle-like feet
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/80fd5c2322fc53884c488db09dd686e9/3ed03ad5-b938-49ad-98a8-086f16459910_rw_600.jpg?h=23beebc790017223deed5e3e6220de7c)
Basilosaurus wasn't a dinosaur but a giant, ancient whale who lived entirely at sea. They had serpent-like bodies, powerful tails with small flukes, blowholes, front flippers and teeny back legs
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Dorudon was a smaller whale living in the ocean at the same time as Basilosaurus. They ate fish and swam ust like a dolphin. Their descendants went on to evolve into modern whales and dolphins
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Pakicetus looked more like a wolf than a whale, but did spend time in the water. They had pointy teeth for eating fish, tell-tale ear bones and their eyes were on top of their head, allowing them to see above water.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/80fd5c2322fc53884c488db09dd686e9/5c23ae5d-86a5-489a-90d7-9e3c11416175_rw_600.jpg?h=3c4a49681ddffb2a89628eab18770f76)
Indohyus was the last land-based whale ancestor. This small, deer-like mammal's skull and ear bones were whale-like. It had heavy leg bones which helped weigh it down on the riverbed, to hide from predators
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Here are the six spot illustrations in the spread