Eomysticetus
Extinct genus of whales
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Eomysticetus is an extinct genus of baleen whale from the late Oligocene (Chattian) Chandler Bridge Formation of South Carolina.[1]
| Eomysticetus Temporal range: Chattian | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Infraorder: | Cetacea |
| Family: | †Eomysticetidae |
| Genus: | †Eomysticetus Sanders and Barnes, 2002 |
| Species | |
|
†E. carolinensis Sanders and Barnes, 2002 | |
Taxonomy
Eomysticetus is a member of the family Eomysticetidae, which also includes Micromysticetus, Tohoraata, Tokarahia, and Yamatocetus.[2] There are two species of Eomysticetus, E. whitmorei and E. carolinensis, both from the Chandler Bridge Formation of South Carolina.[1]
Physical characteristics
The skull was around 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in length.[3] Like more evolved baleen whales, its jaws had baleen instead of teeth, meaning that it could filter plankton with its baleen plates.[4][5][6][7] However, primitive baleen whales may have retained enamel coated teeth embedded in the gums, similar to modern sperm whales.[8] Baleen whales, as a group, may be sensitive to low-frequency sounds.[9]
Unlike modern baleen whales, Eomysticetus had a blowhole that was positioned ahead of the eyes, and the characteristics of its vertebrae and flipper bones are akin to those of archaeocetes like Basilosaurus.[4]