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Article
Gross and microscopic anatomy of a tibia tentatively attributed to a cetacean from the Middle Eocene of Europe, with a note on the artiodactyl Anoplotherium and on the perissodactyl Lophiodon
Transition of cetaceans from a semi-aquatic to a fully aquatic lifestyle during the Eocene involved numerous transformations of their anatomy, including reduction of the hind limbs. The earliest fully aquatic ...
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Article
Open AccessPalaeogenomic analysis of black rat (Rattus rattus) reveals multiple European introductions associated with human economic history
The distribution of the black rat (Rattus rattus) has been heavily influenced by its association with humans. The dispersal history of this non-native commensal rodent across Europe, however, remains poorly under...
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Article
A Giant Eocene Whale from Ukraine Uncovers Early Cetacean Adaptations to the Fully Aquatic Life
The earliest fully aquatic cetaceans arose during the Middle Eocene; however, the earliest stage of their divergence is obscure. Here, we provide a detailed redescription of an unusual early cetacean, “Platyosphy...
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Article
Genetic homogeneity in the face of morphological heterogeneity in the harbor porpoise from the Black Sea and adjacent waters (Phocoena phocoena relicta)
Absence of genetic differentiation is usually taken as an evidence of panmixia, but can also reflect other situations, including even nearly complete demographic independence among large-sized populations. Dec...
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Article
Habitat shapes skull profile of small cetaceans: evidence from geographical variation in Black Sea harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena relicta)
Morphological differentiation in skull shape in small toothed whales is sometimes explained as driven by differences in ontogeny or adaptation to a benthic or pelagic habitat. To test these hypotheses, the com...
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Article
Cetacean stranding rate correlates with fish stock dynamics: research of harbour porpoises in the Sea of Azov
The dynamics of the endangered population of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the Azov Sea is currently unknown. It can be, however, estimated by stranding analysis. In 1999–2014, the porpoise strandin...
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Article
Naming an Innominate: Pelvis and Hindlimbs of Miocene Whales Give an Insight into Evolution and Homology of Cetacean Pelvic Girdle
Cetaceans have highly transformed pelvic and hindlimb bones as a secondary adaptation to an aquatic lifestyle. Paleontological records of these bones are very scarce, which hampers interpretations of their hom...
