A diminutive new basilosaurid whale reveals the trajectory of the cetacean life histories during the Eocene.

ABSTRACT: Soon after whales originated from small terrestrial artiodactyl ancestors, basal stem forms (archaeocetes) came to inhabit more specialized aquatic ecologies and underwent a tremendous adaptive radiation that culminated in the adoption of a fully aquatic lifestyle. This adaptive strategy is first documented by the geographically widespread extinct family Basilosauridae. Here we report a new basilosaurid genus and species, Tutcetus rayanensis, from the middle Eocene of Fayum, Egypt. This new whale is not only the smallest known basilosaurid, but it is also one of the oldest records of this family from Africa. Tutcetus allows us to further test hypotheses regarding basilosaurids' early success in the aquatic ecosystem, which lasted into the latest Eocene, and their ability to outcompete amph

SUBMITTER: Antar MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10415296 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature