Dhedacetus Explained

Dhedacetus hyaeni is a protocetid cetacean from the middle Eocene (late Lutetian, 42 mya). It is the only species in the genus Dhedacetus.^[1] The type specimen was recovered from the Indian Harudi Formation near the town of Dhedadi, Kutch.^[2]

Description

Only one skull and some vertebra are known.^[3] D. hyaeni is the smallest protocetid from Kutch. Its premolars and molars are about the same size as in other protocetids such as Babiacetus, Rodhocetus and Maiacetus. It has a long, broad snout and high ocular orbits.^{[4] [5]}

The genus name comes from the town close by and the species name comes from a local hyena.^[1]

Notes and References

1. Sunil Bajpai. J.G.M. Thewissen. 2014. Protocetid cetaceans (Mammalia) from the Eocene of India. Palaeontologia Electronica. 17. 3, 34A. 19 p. 2019-03-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612210712/https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2014/914-whales-from-india. 2018-06-12. live.
2. Web site: Dhedacetus hyaeni . Fossilworks . 17 December 2021 . mdy-all .
3. Book: 9780520277069 . 163. The Walking Whales: From Land to Water in Eight Million Years. Thewissen. J. G. M.. 2014-11-13. Univ of California Press .
4. Book: 9781421423265 . 159. The Rise of Marine Mammals: 50 Million Years of Evolution. Berta. Annalisa. 2017-10-29. JHU Press .
5. Book: 9781118561362 . 100. Cetacean Paleobiology. Marx. Felix G.. Lambert. Olivier. Uhen. Mark D.. 2016-03-29. John Wiley & Sons .