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The Emergence of Whales pp 1–28Cite as

Synopsis of the Earliest Cetaceans

Pakicetidae, Ambulocetidae, Remingtonocetidae, and Protocetidae

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Part of the book series: Advances in Vertebrate Paleobiology ((AIVP,volume 1))

Abstract

The story of cetacean origin, early evolution, diversification, and dispersal has dramatically changed in the last 20 years, related in large part to discoveries made in Pakistan, India, and the southeastern Coastal Plain of the United States. These discoveries have helped to document an extraordinary progression in whales from a predatory terrestrial ancestor to highly specialized open marine dwellers. Although this story is far from complete, it is useful to review the known diversity of early cetaceans in order to provide a framework for future discoveries and paleobiological studies. This chapter will give a synopsis of the systematic paleontology of the four earliest cetacean families and their occurrence both geologically and geographically.

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  1. Department of Anatomy, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Rootstown, Ohio, 44272, USA

    Ellen M. Williams

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  1. Department of Anatomy, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Rootstown, Ohio, 44272, USA

    J. G. M. Thewissen

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Williams, E.M. (1998). Synopsis of the Earliest Cetaceans. In: Thewissen, J.G.M. (eds) The Emergence of Whales. Advances in Vertebrate Paleobiology, vol 1. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0159-0_1

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