Indohyus Colouring Page

Indohyus indirae was a small hoofed mammal that lived about 48 million years ago in what is now northern India. Its bones were found in the Himalayan foothills of Jammu and Kashmir, in rocks formed from ancient freshwater environments. It was roughly the size of a raccoon or small cat, with a long snout, long tail, slender legs and toes ending in little hooves. Indohyus was not itself a whale and should not be called the direct ancestor of every whale. It belonged to the raoellids, a group very close to the branch from which whales evolved. Its special importance comes from dense limb bones that acted as ballast, whale-like details in the ear region, and tooth chemistry showing that it spent much time in water. It probably waded or walked on the bottom, while its diet may have remained mainly plant-based. Its lifespan is unknown. Indohyus disappeared through natural evolutionary and environmental turnover during the Eocene, tens of millions of years before humans existed. Fossils cannot identify a last individual or a single extinction year. Its lineage may have been replaced as habitats and animal communities changed, but no particular disaster has been proven. The animal is scientifically valuable because it shows that water-loving behaviour and heavy bones appeared near the whale family before a fully aquatic body and a diet of fish evolved. Colour Indohyus warm brown, reddish tan, grey or golden beige, with a cream belly and muzzle. The inside of the ears can be peach. Use blue or turquoise for the shallow stream, green for reeds and broad leaves, and tan or grey for stones. Long strokes suit the back and tail; short strokes can add soft fur around the neck. Follow the waterline carefully so all four legs remain visible below it. Notice the tiny hoof-like toes and the long snout. The simple scene can be bright and friendly, but keep the animal's body darker than the water to make its unusual wading lifestyle clear.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

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