Scientists recently discovered a living whale with links to an ancient family thought to be long extinct.

New research published by the Proceedings of the Royal Society on Wednesday showed the lineage of the pygmy right whale traced back to the cetotheres family that was believed to be extinct with no descendants.

The pygmy right whale was first discovered nearly two hundred years ago and has been a source of fascination to scientists. The whales have snouts that are arched in a frown-like pattern that is uncommon among the majority of whales living today. After comparing the skulls of the ancient cetotheres with the modern pygmy right whale, scientists were better able to prove their findings and link the two animals.

"The living pygmy right whale is, if you like, a remnant, almost like a living fossil," said paleontologist Felix Marx from the University of Otago in New Zealand, cited by NBC News. "It's the last survivor of quite an ancient lineage that until now no one thought was around."

The cetotheres family is believed to have gone extinct around 2 million years ago and no living relative has since been discovered with the recent exception of the pygmy right whale. The ancient family of whales first appeared 15 million years ago with evidence of their existence ending 13 million years after.

Scientists have been unable to fully study the pygmy right whale as they are an uncommon sight usually roaming the oceans in the Southern Hemisphere.

The pygmy right whale is believed to measure in as the smallest of the baleen type at around 21 feet long.

Another whale finding rocked the world of science recently. The Florida Times Union reported Monday that a five-foot long bone was discovered in Georgia that belongs to an extinct Atlantic gray whale. The news was announced by researchers from the University of Georgia and Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary.