Cetotherium, skeleton of the prehistoric whale, original watercolour art

The detailed sketch for this artwork I made in National Natural History Museum of Ukraine in Kyiv. My goal was to depict the full skeleton like it exhibits in the Museum hall. Every bone is carefully studied and rendered to preserve anatomical accuracy.

Cetotherium is an extinct prehistoric whale that lived approximately 13–5 million years ago during the Miocene epoch. Cetotherium belongs to an early group of baleen whales (Mysticeti) and represents an important stage in the evolution of modern whales. This full skeleton was found in South region of Ukraine.

Cetotherium was smaller than today’s great whales, yet it already possessed early baleen adaptations, marking a crucial evolutionary transition from toothed ancestors to modern filter-feeding giants. Fossils of this genus are rare and scientifically significant, helping researchers understand how whales adapted to life fully in the oceans.

Original hand-drawn watercolour artwork on 100% cotton FABRIANO paper 300 g/m, one of a kind.

Shipping unframed rolled in a tube.

Artwork dimensions: 26.5x38.5cm | 10.5x15.2 in (delivered in a box)