28 Million-Year-Old Whale Skull Fossil Found, 'Really Unusual' New Species Shows Possible Origin Of Echolocation

The fossilized skull of a 28 million-year-old whale may be the oldest evidence paleontologists have of echolocation. According to analysis of the new species of toothed whale, Cotylocara macei looked similar to modern-day dolphins and lived in shallow marine environments. It also had a deep cavity on the top of its head that would have stored air during dives and may have reflected sound.