Australian scientists have unveiled a newly discovered ancient whale species, *Janjucetus dullardi*, from a well-preserved skull fossil found on Victoria's Surf Coast. This 26-million-year-old species, a relative of modern baleen whales, was a small but fearsome predator, described as "deceptively cute." The discovery, detailed in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, marks the fourth mammalodontid species ever found and the third in Victoria, contributing significantly to our understanding of early whale evolution in Australia.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.