Origin of whales from early artiodactyls: Hands and feet of eocene Protocetidae from Pakistan
Origin of whales from early artiodactyls: Hands and feet of eocene Protocetidae from Pakistan
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DOI：
10.1126/science.1063902
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发表时间：
2001-09-21
期刊：
影响因子：
56.9
通讯作者：
Malkani, MS
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Gingerich, PD;ul Haq, M;Malkani, MS
两种新鲸鱼化石的部分骨骼，即棍棒Artiocetus clavis和俾路支斯坦Rodhocetus balochistan，是已知最古老的原鲸古ocetes之一。这些化石来自巴基斯坦俾路支省东部的早期鲁特时代（4700万年前）地层。踝关节均有黄芪和长方体，具有偶蹄动物的特征；俾路支斯坦长臂猿几乎有完整的前肢和后肢。这些新发现的骨骼对增加早期原鲸科的多样性具有重要意义，它们阐明了鲸目是由早期偶蹄目动物而不是中爪目动物进化而来的，并展示了早期原鲸目动物是如何游泳的。
Partial skeletons of two new fossil whales, Artiocetus clavis and Rodhocetus balochistanensis, are among the oldest known protocetid archaeocetes. These came from early Lutetian age (47 million years ago) strata in eastern Balochistan Province, Pakistan. Both have an astragalus and cuboid in the ankle with characteristics diagnostic of artiodactyls; R. balochistanensis has virtually complete fore- and hind limbs. The new skeletons are important in augmenting the diversity of early Protocetidae, clarifying that Cetacea evolved from early Artiodactyla rather than Mesonychia and showing how early protocetids swam.