Nalacetus

Nalacetus
Temporal range: Early Eocene, 50 Ma
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetacea
Suborder: Archaeoceti
Family: Pakicetidae
Genus: Nalacetus
Thewissen & Hussain 1998
Binomial name
Nalacetus ratimitus (type)
Thewissen & Hussain 1998

Nalacetus is an extinct pakicetid early whale, fossils of which have been found in Lutetian red beds in Punjab, Pakistan (33°36′N 72°12′E / 33.6°N 72.2°E / 33.6; 72.2, paleocoordinates 14°18′N 68°18′E / 14.3°N 68.3°E / 14.3; 68.3).[1][2] Nalacetus lived in a fresh water environment, was amphibious, and carnivorous. It was considered monophyletic by Cooper, Thewissen & Hussain 2009.[1] It was said to be wolf-sized and one of the earliest forms of the order Cetacea.

Nalacetus is known mostly from dental remains from the Lutetian of the Kala Chitta Hill, Punjab, Pakistan:[3]

In the cheek teeth of Pakicetus, the protocone lobe increases from the first molar to the third. In Nalacetus, in contrast, the protocone lobe is larger in the first molar than in the second.[3]

Notes

  1. Howard University-Geological Survey of Pakistan Project

References

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