Weird Walruses and Ocean “Hippos”: Marine Mammals of Ancient California
by Gabriel-Philip Santos, Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology
Once upon a time, between 20-5 million years ago, the coast of California was a much different place. Where we now have storefronts, freeways, and aquariums, ancient shallow seas once covered the land. And in those seas, many strange and unfamiliar creatures swam! From tuskless walruses to the hippo-like desmostylians, these marine mammals once thrived in the Miocene seas. In this presentation, Gabriel-Philip Santos of the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology and cohost of PBS Eons, takes us on a deep dive into these ancient seas.
Gabriel-Philip Santos is a paleontologist, educator, and storyteller. He is the Director of Visitor Engagement and Education at the Alf Museum of Paleontology. He received his B.Sc. in biology at University of California-Irvine, and his M.Sc. in geology at California State University-Fullerton. His previous research interests focused on the Eocene vertebrate fauna of Southern California and the paleobiology of marine mammals, particularly in the extinct hippo-like desmostylians. He now focuses his work on science education and engaging audiences through projects like the Cosplay for Science Initiative. He was a 2021 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow with National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions for his work in science education and is also as a host for the popular YouTube series, PBS Eons, where he gets to share stories of deep time.