In Depth Chonecetus is a whale genus that is usually attributed to the Aetiocetidae a group of primitive ancestors of Baleen whales. There has however been speculation that Chonecetus might be a member of the Archaeoceti, a more ancient group of toothed predatory whales that included genera such as Dorudon and Basilosaurus. If the latter … Read more
In Depth Chilcacetus is a genus of toothed whale that lived in the waters around South America during the Miocene. Further Reading - A new archaic homodont toothed cetacean (Mammalia, Cetacea, Odontoceti) from the early Miocene of Peru. - Geodiversitas 37(1):79-108. - O. Lambert, C. de Muizon & G. Bianucci - 2015.
In Depth Sometimes confused with the similarly named ichthyosaur Eurhinosaurus, Eurhinodelphis was a Miocene era cetacean that resembled a long snouted dolphin. Another similarity to dolphins is the asymmetrical brain which means one side was different than the other. Additionally Eurhinodelphis had extremely well developed hearing and is considered to have possibly hunted by echolocation. … Read more
In Depth Artiocetus was an important transisitional find because individuals of this genus still possessed artiodactyl-like ankles. In modern palaeontology whales have long been thought to have descended from land living artiodactyl ancestors, specifically anthracotheres, and the observation of artiodactyl ankles in a primitive whale is further proof of this theory. Although a whale ancestor, … Read more
In Depth The change from a terrestrial to more aquatic life that began with Pakicetus through Ambulocetus continued with the further developments of Protocetus. The front limbs still had webbed toes, but the rear limbs were already greatly reduced in size to the point of them being vestigial. The caudal vertebrae towards the end of … Read more
In Depth Mystacodon is a genus of primitive whale that lived in waters around South America during the Eocene. Mystacodon is a transitional form, somewhere between the predatory toothed whale ancestors and later filter feeding baleen whales. Mystacodon however is thought to have been a suction feeder. This is where the whale would open its … Read more
In Depth Originally described as a species of Gaviacetus, Kharodacetus is a genus of protocetid whale known to have inhabited the coastal waters of India during the Eocene. Further Reading - Protocetid cetaceans (Mammalia) from the Eocene of India. - Palaeontologia Electronica 17 (3, 34A): 19 p. - Sunil Bajpai & J. G. M. Thewissen … Read more
In Depth When Mauicetus was first named it was originally as Lophocephalus. However this name had already been used to name a genus of beetle. Under international rules governing the naming of animals, the first use has priority, so the fossils of this whale were renamed Mauicetus. Mauicetus lived in the waters around the Pacific … Read more
In Depth Gandakasia is a little known genus of primitive whale from Pakistan, and not surprising given that the genus was named only upon the description of teeth. Further Reading - Pal�ontologische und geologische Untersuchungen im Terti�r von Pakistan. - Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften Mathewmatisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Klasse 91:1-54. - R. Dehm & T. Oettingen-Spielberg - 1958.
In Depth Just one of many primitive whale forms from Pakistan, Takracetus is related to other primitive forms such as Rodhocetus and Protocetus amongst others. Further Reading Further reading- New archaeocetes (Mammalia, Cetacea) from the Middle Eocene Domanda Formation of the Sulaiman Range, Punjab (Pakistan). – Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan … Read more