In Depth Stromerius is a genus of basilosaurid whale that has been discovered in the world famous fossil deposits of Egypt, some of which are well known for turning up the fossils of whales. Unfortunately the harsh environmental conditions there can quickly erode exposed fossils, and as for the case of Stromerius, only some of … Read more
In Depth Georgiacetus is one of the most primitive whale genera to be discovered in the United States, with the holotype fossils discovered in the state of Georgia during the construction of a nuclear power station. New fossil material discovered in 2008 resulted in confirmation that Georgiacetus did not have a fluked tail like modern … Read more
In Depth Megantereon has a popular standing within the realm of big cat palaeontology as it is thought by many to be the ancestor to the considerably more famous Smilodon (often incorrectly dubbed the Sabre-toothed tiger). Megantereon itself is often referred to as a dirk toothed cat because while the upper canines are enlarged, they … Read more
In Depth Willungacetus is both the oldest whale known from Australia, and the only member of the Aetiocetidae whale group. Willungacetus may have had teeth like other early whales, but other members of the group like Chonecetus had begun to develop baleen at roughly the same time that Willungacetus was swimming the oceans. Further fossil … Read more
In Depth At the time of the genus description Coronodon caused a lot of excitement, as this genus represent one of the oldest baleen whales in the fossil record. Baleen whales, also known as mystecetids, certainly had ancestors that were active predators of other sea creatures. The teeth of Coronodon are shaped in such a … Read more
In Depth Once described as a new species of Protocetus, the holotype remains were elevated to genus level in 1975. Although a different genus, Andrewsiphius would have still been a primitive toothed whale form similar to the more famous Protocetus. The rear limbs would still have been visible on the outside of the body, while … Read more
In Depth Notharctus is easily the best known of the arboreal primates of the Eocene, a popularity thanks largely to the number of fossil specimens for this genus as well as its frequent inclusion in books about prehistoric animals. Notharctus was a small lightly built and flexible primate that is often described as lemur-like. The … Read more
In Depth Afropithecus is one of the better known primates of Miocene era Africa and the current fossils for this primate suggest that it was similar to the even more numerous Proconsul. However despite a body similarity to Proconsul, Afropithecus is thought to have had a head more like Aegyptopithecus (which may actually be Propliopithecus) … Read more
In Depth Agorophius seems to have been one of the early toothed whales of the Odontoceti, but unfortunately the holotype remains of this genus have now been lost. This makes further study of the genus with more modern methods and techniques impossible until either the holotypes are found or new fossils are recovered from the … Read more
In Depth Albicetus is a genus of whale that lived in Pacific Ocean during the Miocene. Further Reading - A fossil physeteroid cetacean from Santa Barbara County California. - Proceedings of the United States National Museum 66(27):1-8. - R. Kellogg - 1925. - Albicetus oxymycterus, a New Generic Name and Redescription of a Basal Physeteroid … Read more