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Is it a myth that modern whales have been found with hind legs sticking out of their sides and full formed tibias, fibias, and toe bones? I keep finding assertions, but no citations. For example, the wikipedia page has no citation for it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whales#Appendages

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This might be better suited on Skeptics. @Rory, what do you think? – Konrad Rudolph May 17 '12 at 14:02
I posted this here because I was looking for a statement of fact. A simple "do we observe this" or not, whole vestigial limbs "legs" on modern whales that is. Whether the small bones in the pelvic area of modern / fossil whales are part of their skeletal anatomy or vestigial is another question. – John May 17 '12 at 15:47
@KonradRudolph I'm never 100% on what's suited to skeptics, I've only really lurked and read some of the higher voted questions. Sure Mad Sci. will come across this later anyway xD – Rory M♦ May 17 '12 at 19:47

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The link you give doesn't mention limbs sticking out of the body wall, but only vestigial hind limb elements. Many whales do retain pelves and femora, as this page at the Bergen Museum shows. Given the variation in limb development across vertebrates, it would not be surprising to find more distal elements (but I would be very surprised if they extended past the body wall).

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So the stories I've heard of fishermen pulling whales out of the sea with legs sticking out their sides are myths/exaggerations? I just want to make sure I have my facts straight, that's all. – John May 17 '12 at 15:50
probably... lol. Natural science was historically more of a circus business than institutional science as we know it. People would garner fame, attention and wealth by bringing in animal stories and artifacts that confirmed ancient myths or fantastic ideas. Examples are the market for narwhal horns which were sold as unicorn horns and mermaid exhibitions (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mermaid#Hoaxes). – shigeta May 17 '12 at 16:15

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