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Mystacodon selenensis - baleen whale ancestor for PBS' Eons

A recent commission for the PBS show EONS, a SciComm show about all sorts of topics along Earth's history. This one depicting the basal baleen whale Mystacodon selenensis, once in a generalised image and once depicting the hypothetical bottom feeding/suction feeding behaviour that might have led to the baleen that is known from today's mysticeti.

Full episode can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITEMAKa4-lc

First image, general depiction of the animals just swimming along.

First image, general depiction of the animals just swimming along.

Second image, showing bottom feeding/filter feeding behaviour.

Second image, showing bottom feeding/filter feeding behaviour.

The Zbrush sculpt with simple polypaint applied.

The Zbrush sculpt with simple polypaint applied.

Model retopologised in TopoGun 2.0 and rigged/posed/rendered in Blender.

Model retopologised in TopoGun 2.0 and rigged/posed/rendered in Blender.