Home Science Skin deep: Aquatic skin adaptations of whales and hippos evolved independently

Skin deep: Aquatic skin adaptations of whales and hippos evolved independently

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A new study shows that the similarly smooth, nearly hairless skin of whales and hippopotamuses evolved independently. The work suggests that their last common ancestor was likely a land-dwelling mammal, uprooting current thinking that the skin came fine-tuned for life in the water from a shared amphibious ancestor.

Source: ScienceDaily.com