Paleobiology of the First Whales: Radiation of Pakicetid Cetaceans in Eocene Pakistan

鲸目动物的起源标志着一系列器官系统的巨大变化，这一过程是哺乳动物化石记录中主要形态变化的最好记录之一。这笔赠款研究最古老、最基本的鲸目动物的进化变化。这些鲸鱼是袋鲸，只在印度西北部和巴基斯坦的淡水沉积物中发现。这个项目将通过测试一系列与器官系统变化及其背景有关的假说来调查百合科的古生物学。将从巴基斯坦北部始新世沉积物中收集的古生物、地球化学和古地磁样本中收集数据，这些数据将解决关于早期鲸目动物的系统发育、运动、听力、栖息地和营养水平的问题。

9902830ThewissenThe origin of cetaceans was marked by a number of dramatic changes in a whole array of organ systems, and this process is one of the best documented examples of major morphological change in the mammalian fossil record. This grant studies evolutionary changes in the oldest, most basal cetaceans. These whales, pakicetids, and are found only in freshwater deposits of northwestern India and Pakistan. This project will investigate the paleobiology of pakicetids by testing a suite of hypotheses relating to organ system change and its context. Data will be gathered from paleontological, geochemical, and paleomagnetic samples collected in Eocene deposits in northern Pakistan and these data will address questions concerning the phylogeny, locomotion, hearing, habitat, and trophic level of early cetaceans.