Chonecetus Explained

Chonecetus is an extinct genus of primitive baleen whale of the family Aetiocetidae^[1] that lived in the Oligocene period.^[2] Its fossils have been found in Canada,^[3] in the northeast Pacific.^[4] It was first named by L.S. Russell in 1968, and contains one species, C. sookensis.

Like Aetiocetus, Chonecetus possessed both multicusped teeth and the nutrient foramina required for baleen.^[5] Chonecetus closely resembled a modern Mysticeti, with an elongate, streamlined body supporting a pair of paddle-shaped forelimbs, and a horizontal tail fluke strengthened by fibrous cartilage.^[1]

Sister Taxa

• Aetiocetus
• Ashorocetus
• Fucaia
• Morawanocetus
• Willungacetus

Suggested further reading

• Marine Mammal Biology: An Evolutionary Approach By A. Rus Hoelzel. Published 2002 Blackwell Publishing.

External links

• Paleobiology Database

Notes and References

1. Web site: Cetacea, Indeterminate. Distribution of Animal Family Through Time . www.courtenaymuseum.ca . 2008-07-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071023154018/http://www.courtenaymuseum.ca/paleo/paleo/cetacea.html . October 23, 2007 .
2. Whales, Whaling, and Ocean Ecosystems; page 70. By James A. Estes, published 2007; University of California Press. Retrieved on July 1, 2020
3. Web site: Data on the geographic and temporal distribution of cetacean genera . Paleo-Electronica.org . February 2007 . 2008-07-01.
4. Web site: The Evolution of Cetaceans - Chapter Nine . The Biology and Conservation of Marine Mammals; Aldemaro Romero. . 2005 . 2008-07-01.
5. Marine Mammals: Evolutionary Biology; page 62. By Annalisa Berta, James L. Sumich, and Kit M. Kovacs, published 2005; Academic Press. Retrieved on July 1, 2008.