Credit: John Broomfield/Tom Breakwell/Museums Victoria/Cover Images Australian scientists have identified species of razor-toothed ancient whale with cuter looks than its fearsome bite would suggest. Despite its menacing fangs, Janjucetus dullardi had large eyes and a compact body. The beast of the deep, which lived around 25 million years ago, is thought to be one of the earliest cousins of modern baleen whales – but unlike today’s gentle giants, it was a small, swift predator. Researchers at Museums Victoria’s Research Institute identified the species from a partial skull, including ear bones and teeth, found near Jan Juc, on Wadawurrung Country, along Victoria’s Surf Coast. The fossil was discovered in June 2019 by local resident Ross Dullard, who spotted it while walking on the beach and later donated it to Museums Victoria. In recognition of his contribution, the species has been named in his honour. “This kind of public discovery and its reporting to the museum is vital,” said Dr Erich Fitzgerald, senior curator of vertebrate palaeontology at Museums Victoria Research Institute and senior author of the study. “Ross’ discovery has unlocked an entire chapter of whale evolution we’ve never seen before. It’s a reminder that world-changing fossils can be found in your own backyard.” Published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, the research identifies Janjucetus dullardi as a juvenile “baby whale”, just over two metres long. Despite its modest size, it belonged to the mammalodontids – early whales that lived only during the Oligocene Epoch, around 30 to 23 million years ago. “It’s essentially a little whale with big eyes and a mouth full of sharp, slicing teeth,” said Ruairidh Duncan, PhD student at the Museums Victoria Research Institute and Monash University, and lead author of the study. “Imagine the shark-like version of a baleen whale – small and deceptively cute, but definitely not harmless.” It is the third mammalodontid species known from Victoria and the fourth worldwide – and the first to preserve both the teeth and inner ear structures in such detail. Scientists say these features are key to understanding how early whales fed, heard, moved and behaved in the water. Advanced microCT scans revealed intricate inner ear structures, including the cochlea, which help scientists explore how Janjucetus dullardi sensed its surroundings – an ability crucial for hunting and navigating ancient seas. “This fossil opens a window into how ancient whales grew and changed, and how evolution shaped their bodies as they adapted to life in the sea,” said Fitzgerald. The fossil was recovered from the Jan Juc Formation, a geological layer dating to a period of global warmth and rising seas. The area is increasingly recognised as an international hotspot for early whale evolution. “Understanding how ancient whales adapted to warmer oceans millions of years ago gives scientists valuable clues about how today’s marine life might respond to climate change,” Fitzgerald added. “This region was once a cradle for some of the most unusual whales in history, and we’re only just beginning to uncover their stories. We’re entering a new phase of discovery. This region is rewriting the story of how whales came to rule the oceans, with some surprising plot twists!” Museums Victoria says it expects further fossil finds along Victoria’s coastline in the coming years. Scientists are also studying newly unearthed specimens, as well as long-unstudied material from the museum’s collections. Lynley Crosswell, CEO and Director of Museums Victoria, said: “The findings demonstrate the power of our collections to unlock stories that change the way we understand life on Earth. Thanks to the generosity of the public and the expertise of our scientists, Museums Victoria Research Institute is making globally significant contributions to evolutionary research. Discoveries like Janjucetus dullardi remind us that our collections are not just about the past – they’re shaping the future of science.”