Cetaceans have a very identical anatomy and skeletal build when compared to humans in my eyes. I think it's remarkable that we have a similar build for the very different environments that we both live in. Here are just some similarities that i have found in researching cetaceans:
- Homologous Structures: homologous structures are are characteristics which are shared by related species because they have been inherited in some way from a common ancestor, and in this case we are looking at a certain point in both organisms skeletons which is the fore-limb. As you can see in the picture to the right, the very same bones are in both of the whale and human fore-arm, they are just adapted to do different things in different ways.
- Vestigial Structures: these are structures or organs that have become useless over the period of evolution. A pelvic bone in humans connects our legs to our spinal column as well as having other purposes, but a whales pelvic bones have no function, yet they still have them, (as you can see from the picture to the right again).
- Bones and Teeth: “The bones and teeth of marine mammals, like those of other vertebrates, consist of both organic and mineral components. Because the mineral component (mostly calcium phosphate) predominates, the constituents of bones (bone and calcified cartilage) and teeth (cementum, dentine, and enamel) are referred to as ‘hard tissues.’ Each of these hard tissues is distinguished both by its composition and by its microscopic structure. Many of the histological features of marine mammal teeth are typical for all mammals…” That was said by Mary C. Mass in her study of cetacean bones and teeth.
Based on only those three examples of anatomical evidence of similarities, i would say there is a strong tie between human anatomy and cetacean anatomy.
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