When Whales Could Walk
Giant fossils uncovered in the Sahara Desert reveal new secrets of how whales evolved.
In Egypt’s Sahara Desert, massive skeletons with strange skulls and gigantic teeth jut out from the sandy ground. This fossil graveyard, millions of years old, is known as the “Valley of the Whales.” Now, paleontologists have unearthed a whole new species of ancient whale dating to 43 million years ago, and this predator wasn’t just able to swim – it also had four legs and could walk. Follow scientists as they search for new clues to the winding evolutionary path of mammals that moved from the land into the sea to become the largest animals on Earth. (Premiered January 31, 2024 at 9 pm on PBS.)
More Ways to Watch
Explore More
Oldest DNA Ever Found Reveals Secrets of the Ancient Arctic
Secrets in our DNA
Ice Age Footprints
How Did Whales Evolve From Land Mammals?
When Whales Could Walk
The whale that could walk
Ancient whale fossils found in the desert
