Friday, 27 August 2021

Meet Phiomicetus anubis, doglike whale that ran and swam near Egypt 43m years ago

In A new protocetid whale offers clues to biogeography and feeding ecology in early cetacean evolution, we learn of a species of whale that lived near Egypt 43m years ago and why it earned the name Phiomicetus anubis.

The new species differs from other protocetids in having large, elongated temporal fossae, anteriorly placed pterygoids, elongated parietals, an unfused mandibular symphysis that terminates at the level of P3, and a relatively enlarged I3.

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