![Pakicetus was a prehistoric cetacean.](http://up.wiki.x.io/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Pakicetus_BW.jpg/115px-Pakicetus_BW.jpg)
- ...cetaceans have evolved from land mammals. Evidence of this is seen in the vestigial hip bones, as well in the pentadactyl ("five-fingered") dorsal flippers/fins.
- ...Herman Melville included an objective study of the properties of whales in Moby-Dick.
- ...a male dolphin named Cinderella was unofficially married to a human woman.
- ...sound made by whales can be extremely loud, with 163 decibels recorded.
- ...about 2000 whales may be beached each year.