Himalayacetus

species of mammal (fossil)

Himalayacetus is an extinct aquatic cetacean known from fossils found in the Himachal Pradesh, India.[2] It lived in the remnants of the ancient Tethys Ocean during the early Eocene. This extends the fossil record of whales by some 3.5 million years.[3]

Himalayacetus
Temporal range: Early Eocene, 53.5 Ma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Ambulocetidae
Genus: Himalayacetus
Bajpai & Gingerich, 1998[1]
Species:
H. subathuensis
Binomial name
Himalayacetus subathuensis
Bajpai & Gingerich, 1998[1]

Himalayacetus lived in the coastline of the ancient Tethys Ocean before the Indian plate collided with Eurasia. It is only known from a single jaw fossil, which makes exact comparisons with other cetaceans almost impossible.[4]

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 Bajpai & Gingerich 1998.
  2. Kuthar Nala (Eocene of India) in the Paleobiology Database. Retrieved June 2013
  3. Bajpai & Gingerich 1998, Abstract
  4. Thewissen JGM. "Ambulocetidae: The First Costal Whales". Archived from the original on 2013-04-03. Retrieved 1 February 2013.