Kharodacetus
Temporal range: Middle Eocene,
Kharodacetus sahnii, mandible, specimen number IITR-SB 3189
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: †Protocetidae
Subfamily: †Protocetinae
Genus: †Kharodacetus
Bajpai and Thewissen, 2014
Species

Kharodacetus is a genus of protocetid cetacean from the middle Eocene (late Lutetian, 42 mya) of Kutch, Gujarat, southwestern India.[1]

Description

Kharodacetus sahnii, plaster replica of original, IITR-SB 3189

Kharodacetus is a large-sized protocetid with large premolars and a flat supraorbital shield with large orbits (eye sockets). Its snout is long and relatively broad, (though the snout is narrower in Gaviacetus and Makaracetus, broader in Takracetus), its orbit is high above the palate, and the premolars are large and robust. The molars have a large protocone (unlike Babiacetus) and a large metacone (unlike Maiacetus), and are, relative to P4, longer than in other protocetids.[1]

Classification

Kharodacetus was originally described as a species of Gaviacetus, G. sahnii in 1998.[2] It was distinguished based on the larger size of the teeth (150-200% bigger than those of Gaviacetus). However, subsequently discovered remains described in 2014 resulted in the species being allocated to its own genus.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Sunil Bajpai; J.G.M. Thewissen (2014). "Protocetid cetaceans (Mammalia) from the Eocene of India". Palaeontologia Electronica. 17 (3, 34A): 19 p.
  2. ↑ Bajpai, S.; Thewissen, J. G. M. (1998). "Middle Eocene Cetaceans from the Harudi and Subathu Formations of India". In Thewissen, J. G. M. The Emergence of Whales. Advances in vertebrate paleobiology. New York: Plenum Press. pp. 213–233. ISBN 9780306458538. OCLC 300450327.
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