In Depth As a member of the Basilosauridae, Masracetus was a relative of the famous Basilosaurus, and comparable in terms of skull size and body width. However, as in other relative genera such as Cynthiacetus, the vertebrae of Masracetus were much shorter than the vertebrae of Basilosaurus, indicating a proportionately shorter body. Masracetus was named … Read more
In Depth Originally named as a species of Mesocetus, Tranatocetus is a genus of whale that lived around Denmark during the Miocene. Further Reading - Mesocetus argillarius sp.n. (Cetacea, Mysticeti) from Upper Miocene of Denmark, with Remarks on the Lower Jaw and the Echolocation System in Whale Phytogeny. - Zoologica Scripta 7 (1-4): 63–79. - … Read more
In Depth With the type species originally described as a species of Prosqualodon, Otekaikea became a recognised genus of toothed whale in 2015. Otekaikea is considered to be very similar to the genus Waipatia. Further Reading - Fossil dolphin Otekaikea marplesi (Latest Oligocene, New Zealand) expands the morphological and taxonomic diversity of Oligocene cetaceans. - … Read more
In Depth Mixocetus was a genus of baleen whale known to have swum in the oceanic waters off California during the late Miocene epoch. Further Reading - A new cetothere from the Modelo Formation at Los Angeles, California. - Carnegie Institution of Washington 447:83-104. - R. Kellogg - 1934.
In Depth Morawanocetus is a genus of whale that is known to have lived in the waters around what is now Japan as well as California in the USA during the Oligocene. These discoveries indicate that Morawanocetus was widespread across the Pacific Ocean. As a member of the Aetiocetidae, Morawanocetus, would have been a relative … Read more
In Depth Joumocetus is a genus of whale that is known to have lived in the Pacific waters of what is now Japan during the Miocene. Further Reading - A new baleen whale (Mysticeti: Cetotheriidae) from the earliest late Miocene of Japan and a reconsideration of the phylogeny of cetotheres. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology … Read more
In Depth Meherrinia is an extinct genus of river dolphin that lived in the United States during the late Miocene. Study of the holotype remains has revealed that Meherrinia may be an example of a river dolphin that actually inhabited a marine environment, living in salt water as opposed to fresh water. Further Reading - … Read more
In Depth An exciting find, the genus name of this whale is a reference to the golden colouration of the bones of the type specimen. It is important to note that should further fossilised bones of this genus be discovered they might not have the same colouration since the colour of holotype bones was due … Read more
In Depth The one thing about Basilosaurus that instantly causes confusion is its name. When first studied and named by Richard Harlan, he came to the conclusion that it was most likely a marine reptile, and so named it Basilosaurus, or ‘King lizard’. It was not until the remains were studied by Richard Owen that … Read more
In Depth Zygorhiza belongs to the same group of primitive prehistoric whales as Dorudon and both of these whales are more distantly related to the massive Basilosaurus which was quite possibly a predator of both of these whales. Although similar in form to Basilosaurus, Zygorhiza had a much smaller body that was actually more in … Read more