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 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 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 At first glance the large teeth of Janjucetus could lead you to think that it is one of the toothed whales but in fact closer analysis of the skull has revealed it to actually be one of the baleen whales. Since the earliest ancestor of the baleen whales predates Janjucetus by many millions … Read more
In Depth Titanocetus is a genus of baleen whale that lived in waters around Europe during the Miocene. As a member of the Cetotheriidae whales, Titanocetus would have been related to genera such as Cetotherium. There is a popular misconception that the name Titanocetus means ‘Titan whale’ in reference to a large size, and indeed … Read more
In Depth Plesiobalaenoptera is a genus of rorqual baleen whale that lived in the seas of Europe during the Miocene. Further Reading - A new balaenopterid whale from the late Miocene of the Stirone River, Northern Italy (Mammalia, Cetacea, Mysticeti). - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30(3):943-958. - M. Bisconti - 2010.
In Depth Diunatans is a genus of rorqual whale that would have been swimming around in what is now the North Sea during the early Pliocene. Further Reading - A new fossil rorqual (Mammalia, Cetacea, Balaenopteridae) from the Early Pliocene of the North Sea, with a review of the rorqual species described by Owen and … Read more
In Depth Tohoraata is a genus of whale that lived in the waters around New Zealand during the Oligocene. A former species of Mauicetus, M. waitakiensis, has now been named as a second species of Tohoraata. Further Reading - A new eomysticetid (Mammalia: Cetacea) from the Late Oligocene of New Zealand and re-evaluation of ‘Mauicetus’ … 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 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