Final answer:
Maiacetus is referred to as a "walking whale" due to the presence of developed hind legs, indicating its evolutionary transition from land to sea.
Step-by-step explanation:
Scientists called Maiacetus a "walking whale" due to her developed back legs. This ancient whale species is evidence of the evolutionary transition of cetaceans from land to sea. The Maiacetus, unlike modern whales, still possessed developed hind legs that likely aided in mobility on land, although they primarily lived in marine environments. This term connects to the broader context of evolutionary biology, where the study of ancient species like Maiacetus helps us understand the anatomical adaptations and transitions from terrestrial living to an aquatic lifestyle.
Discussion of other species and their appendages such as myriapods, like centipedes and millipedes, and the adaptations of aquatic tetrapods of the Devonian period, like Ichthyostega and Acanthostega, further illustrate the diversity of limb development and function in the animal kingdom. The evolutionary relationship between these various creatures highlights how appendages, like legs, have transformed to suit different modes of living, whether they be predators, herbivores, parasites, scavengers, or decomposers.