Fossils

Commentaries on fossil interpretation, transitional claims, morphology, dating, and evidential limits.

4 commentaries in this topic.

Paper commentaryFossils

A Whale of a Problem: New Fossil Deepens the Mystery of Baleen's Origin

PaperSuction feeding preceded filtering in baleen whale evolution

A 2016 paper in the Memoirs of Museum Victoria , "Suction feeding preceded filtering in baleen whale evolution," presents an analysis of a fossil whale that has been used to bolster the grand narrative of evolution. The…

DOI: 10.24199/j.mmv.2016.75.04Published 2025-06-27
Read commentary →: A Whale of a Problem: New Fossil Deepens the Mystery of Baleen's Origin
Paper commentaryFossils

Gigantic Problems for Whale Evolution: Fossil Giant Fails to Bridge the Chasm to Baleen

PaperGigantism Precedes Filter Feeding in Baleen Whale Evolution

The theory of evolution purports to explain the origin of all life's variety through unguided natural processes. A classic example used to promote this narrative is the supposed transition from land mammals to whales,…

DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.04.027Published 2025-06-27
Read commentary →: Gigantic Problems for Whale Evolution: Fossil Giant Fails to Bridge the Chasm to Baleen
Paper commentaryFossils

A Gallery of Designs: Why the Whale Fossil Record Showcases Engineering, Not Unguided Progression

PaperFrom Land to Water: the Origin of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises

The 2009 paper "From Land to Water: the Origin of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises" by J. G. M. Thewissen and colleagues stands as a landmark synthesis of fossil evidence. It masterfully arranges a series of remarkable…

DOI: 10.1007/s12052-009-0135-2Published 2025-06-19
Read commentary →: A Gallery of Designs: Why the Whale Fossil Record Showcases Engineering, Not Unguided Progression