Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

---

Explore a world where ancient whales walked the earth.

What if whales had legs? Once upon a time, they did. Sort of. An astonishing fossil trail shows that modern whales actually evolved from hooved land mammals. Whales still carry the fingerprints of this past, from their stomach anatomy to their swimming gait. Dive in to discover the wild story of how whales traded legs for fins, as we uncover clues about their ancestors, as well as their unlikely present-day relatives.

To watch the full film, visit pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/when-whales-could-walk

📰 Stay up to date on the latest science discoveries, full episodes, articles, videos, and more by signing up for NOVA's newsletter here: to.pbs.org/4brCC7Y

▶️ Stream NOVA documentaries & more with PBS Documentaries on Prime Video: amzn.to/4hXBlsu

🛍️ Shop official NOVA 50th anniversary merch: nova-shop.org

Follow on social for more NOVA content
Twitter: twitter.com/novapbs
Instagram: instagram.com/novapbs
TikTok: tiktok.com/@novapbs

#evolution #whales #archaeology