Indohyus is an extinct genus of digitigrade artiodactyls known from Eocene fossils in Asia.

This small chevrotain-like animal found in the Himalayas is one of the earliest known non-cetacean ancestors of whales.

It’s a raccoon-sized beast named Indohyus that lived 48 million years ago in Kashmir. Analyzing the bones of Indohyus, the scientists discovered that it shares some-but not all-of the traits previously considered unique to cetaceans from Pakicetus to today’s whales and dolphins.

The image above is a drawing and not a photograph.