Ambulocetus
Ambulocetus ("walking whale") was an early amphibious cetacean. It could walk as well as swim. Ambulocetus natans lived from the early Eocene (50 to 48 million years ago). Its fossils have been found in Pakistan. When the animal was alive, Pakistan was a coastal region of India, which was then a large island in the Indian Ocean.
| Ambulocetus Temporal range: Lower Eocene
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| Genus: | Ambulocetus
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| Ambulocetus natans Thewissen et al., 1996
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Description
It looked like a 3-meter (10-foot) long mammalian crocodile. It was clearly amphibious: its back legs are better adapted for swimming than for walking on land, and it probably swam by undulating its back vertically, as otters and whales do.
Ambulocetids may have hunted like crocodiles, lurking in the shallows to snatch unsuspecting prey. Chemical analysis of its teeth shows that it was able to move between salt and fresh water. Ambulocetus did not have external ears. To detect prey on land, they may have lowered their heads to the ground and felt for vibrations.[1]
Scientists consider Ambulocetus to be an early whale because it shares underwater adaptations with them. It had an adaptation in the nose that enabled it to swallow underwater, and its periotic bones had a structure like those of whales, enabling it to hear well underwater. In addition, its teeth are similar to those of early cetaceans.[1]
One mostly complete specimen and several partial skeletons have been found in Pakistan.
Ambulocetus Media
Hans Thewissen with the holotype Ambulocetus skeleton
Ambulocetus holotype display arranged in original positions they were found on the ground and swimming posture above, at Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Frankfurt
Reconstructed skeletons of Ambulocetus (right) and the fully aquatic basilosaurid Cynthiacetus (left) at the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris
Synoplotherium vorax - mesonychid from Middle Eocene on Wyoming.
Equus hemionus - 1700-1880 - Print - Iconographia Zoologica - Special Collections University of Amsterdam - (white background)
Walia ibex illustration white background
Voyage en Abyssinie Plate 2 (white background)
Ambulocetus natans, a primitive whale from the Early Eocene of Pakistan, pencil drawing, digital coloring
Remingtonocetus restoration. Cropped from en:
- Remingtonocetus.jpg
- MaiacetusNT
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Related pages
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J G.M. Thewissen, S.I. Madar, and S.T. Hussain (1996). "Ambulocetus natans, an Eocene cetacean (Mammalia) from Pakistan". Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg. 191: 1–86.
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