The Hippo's Missing Link

hende_jman writes "Working with French Colleagues, Jean-Renaud Boisserie, a post-doc fellow at UC Berkeley, found fossil and molecular evidence that points to a close relationship between the hippopotamus and aquatic mammals. The hippo's evolution has been a contentious issue in biology and through history it has been associated with many animals such as horses and pigs."

Is this actually news?

[drdanny_orig]

I could swear I read about this in Dawkins' last book, The Ancestor's Tale which came out last year, didn't I?

Congress with beasts...

[Anonymous Coward]

been associated with many animals such as horses and pigs.

Yeh, there was a time in college when that was okay.

I don't see it

[Yeechang Lee]

Honest, I just don't see the connection between these hippos [mac.com] and aquatic mammals!

Where did they find this missing link?

[MerryGoByeBye]

Posting on /.?

har.har.har

The answer was known in 427 BC!

[Pi_0's don't shower]

The answer has been around since ancient times [tufts.edu]. Herodotus says, from the article:

"They [the hippopotami] present the following appearance; four-footed, with cloven hooves like cattle; blunt-nosed; with a horse's mane, visible tusks, a horse's tail and voice; big as the biggest bull. Their hide is so thick that, when it is dried, spearshafts are made of it." (Herodotus, 2.71.1).

Of course, Aristotle's opinion simply copies Herodotus', leading us to conclude that either these two have never seen a hippopotamus, or evolution happens faster than anyone ever thought!

Yes, but that doesn't answer the modern question

[hey!]

Are they allowed on the Atkins?

Re:The answer was known in 427 BC!

[gstoddart]

Of course, Aristotle's opinion simply copies Herodotus', leading us to conclude that either these two have never seen a hippopotamus, or evolution happens faster than anyone ever thought!

OK. I'm confused ... exactly what about the description is so wrong as to conclude that?

Four feet? Check.
Has hooves? Check
Blunt Nosed? Check.
Mane? Well, they're hairy.
Tusks? Check, well, okay, big teeth that look like tusks.
Furry tail? Kinda, sorta
Big? Check.

I'm sure they wouldn't let me try and make a spearshaf

Re:The answer was known in 427 BC!

[Conanymous Award]

The point of the article was that the hippos' ancestors, the anthracotheres, share a common ancestor with the whales. Hippos aren't that closely related to horses (which are perissodactyls).

What?

[Pan T. Hose]

The hippies are the missing link? I knew it!

USPS Weighs In

[Guano_Jim]

Fortunately, the United States Postal Service has already published instructions on how to pack a hippo. [usps.com]

No information on evolutionary history. For that, Dawkins' Ancestor's Tale [barnesandnoble.com] is highly recommended. Mentions the hippo specifically.