In Depth Ambulocetus is a very important transitional fossil as it displays the link between terrestrial mammals and the early whales. Ambulocetus acquired its name from the idea that it could both swim by undulating its back as well as leave the water and walk on land. However a 2016 study by Ando & Fujiwara … Read more
In Depth Aetiocetus is an important transitional form as it displays the early origins of the baleen whales, while still retaining teeth that can be identified as incisors, canines and molars like many other mammals. Later descendants would go on to become exclusive filter feeders like many of the modern great whales that swim our … Read more
In Depth Cynthiacetus was very similar to the famous Basilosaurus, one of the largest and most famous of the primitive archaeocetid whales. In fact the skull of Cynthiacetus is very similar to the skull of Basilosaurus in both size and form, but Cynthiacetus is known to be different by the simple observation that the vertebrae … Read more
In Depth Natchitochia is a genus of protocetid whale that lived in waters around North America during the mid-Eocene. Though only known from a few vertebrae and partial ribs, it is known that Natchitochia would have been similar to genera such as Eocetus, Pappocetus and Protocetus. Comparison to the vertebrae of Eocetus and the ribs … Read more
In Depth Originally though to be a member of the Archaeoceti, Kekenodon has more recently been considered to be a mysticetid (baleen) whale. Unfortunately the fragmentary nature of the holotype fossils makes is hard to be certain of distinct physical features about Kekenodon. Further Reading - Notes on New Zealand Cetacea, recent and fossil. - … Read more
In Depth Togocetus is a genus of primitive whale that was first discovered in a phosphate mine that is early Eocene in age. Togocetus is noted for being similar to genera such as Protocetus and Pappocetus. Further Reading - A new archaeocete and other marine mammals (Cetacea and Sirenia) from lower middle Eocene phosphate deposits … Read more
In Depth Although details are uncertain, Kutchicetus is noted as being a small remingtonocetid whale (relative of Remingtonocetus). The tail of Kutchicetus seems to have been quite well developed and may have played a more important role in swimming than other primitive whales, though there is no evidence that a tail fluke had been developed. … Read more
In Depth Beneziphius is a genus of beaked whale that lived in waters around Europe during the Miocene/Pliocene periods. Further Reading - Systematics and phylogeny of the fossil beaked whales Ziphirostrum du Bus, 1868 and Choneziphius Duvernoy, 1851 (Mammalia, Cetacea, Odontoceti), from the Neogene of Antwerp (North of Belgium). - Geodiversitas 27(3):443-497. - O. Lambert … Read more
In Depth Attockicetus was a remingtonocetid whale that lived in Pakistan during the Eocene. The known partial remains of the genus make reconstructing Attockicetus difficult, however the genus is expected to have been similar to its relatives Remingtonocetus, Andrewsiphius and Kutchicetus. Further Reading - Attockicetus praecursor, a new remingtonocetid cetacean from marine Eocene sediments of … Read more
In Depth Features of this cetaceans fossils indicate that Mammalodon was a baleen whale, although surprisingly it did not actually have baleen but instead well-developed teeth. Since it could not feed like baleen whales, Mammalodon must have done something different although what is uncertain. There is however one theory that suggests Mammalodon may have sifted … Read more