Aegyptocetus
Encyclopedia
Aegyptocetus is an extinct genus
of protocetid archaeocete whale
known from Egypt
.
d holotype
MSNTUP I-15459, an almost complete cranium, lower jaws (with teeth) and a partial postcrania
l skeleton
(cervical and thoracic vertebrae and rib
s). The specimen was recovered when marbleized
limestone was imported commercially to Italy. It was collected in the Khashm el-Raqaba limestone quarry from the Gebel Hof Formation on the northern flank of Wadi Tarfa in the Eastern Desert
of Egypt
, dating to the late Mokattamian age of the middle Eocene
, about 41-40 million years ago. Its cause of death may have been an attack by a large shark
as pattern of shark tooth marks preserved on the ribs.
and the type species
is Aegyptocetus tarfa. The generic name is derived from Aegyptus, Latin
for Egypt, and cetus, Latin for whale. The specific name refers to Wadi Tarfa, the desert valley
where the holotype found.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of protocetid archaeocete whale
Whale
Whale is the common name for various marine mammals of the order Cetacea. The term whale sometimes refers to all cetaceans, but more often it excludes dolphins and porpoises, which belong to suborder Odontoceti . This suborder also includes the sperm whale, killer whale, pilot whale, and beluga...
known from Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
Description
Aegyptocetus is known from the articulateArticulate
Articulate may refer to:*Articulate *Articulate sign*Articulate sound*Joint, also known as articulation*Word modified by an article...
d holotype
Holotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
MSNTUP I-15459, an almost complete cranium, lower jaws (with teeth) and a partial postcrania
Postcrania
Postcrania[p] in zoology and vertebrate paleontology refers to all or part of the skeleton apart from the skull. Frequently, fossil remains, e.g...
l skeleton
Skeleton
The skeleton is the body part that forms the supporting structure of an organism. There are two different skeletal types: the exoskeleton, which is the stable outer shell of an organism, and the endoskeleton, which forms the support structure inside the body.In a figurative sense, skeleton can...
(cervical and thoracic vertebrae and rib
Rib
In vertebrate anatomy, ribs are the long curved bones which form the rib cage. In most vertebrates, ribs surround the chest, enabling the lungs to expand and thus facilitate breathing by expanding the chest cavity. They serve to protect the lungs, heart, and other internal organs of the thorax...
s). The specimen was recovered when marbleized
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
limestone was imported commercially to Italy. It was collected in the Khashm el-Raqaba limestone quarry from the Gebel Hof Formation on the northern flank of Wadi Tarfa in the Eastern Desert
Eastern Desert
The Eastern Desert is the section of Sahara Desert east of the Nile River, between the river and the Red Sea. It extends from Egypt in the north to Eritrea in the south, and also comprises parts of Sudan and Ethiopia.-Features:...
of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, dating to the late Mokattamian age of the middle Eocene
Eocene
The Eocene Epoch, lasting from about 56 to 34 million years ago , is a major division of the geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Eocene spans the time from the end of the Palaeocene Epoch to the beginning of the Oligocene Epoch. The start of the...
, about 41-40 million years ago. Its cause of death may have been an attack by a large shark
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
as pattern of shark tooth marks preserved on the ribs.
Etymology
Aegyptocetus was first named by Giovanni Bianucci and Philip D. Gingerich in 20112011 in paleontology
-Lobopods:-Arachnids:-Insects:-Newly named jawless vertebrates:-Newly named acanthodian:-Newly named cartilaginous fishes:-Newly named bony fishes:-Newly named lepospondyls:-Newly named temnospondyls:-Newly named lissamphibians:...
and the type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
is Aegyptocetus tarfa. The generic name is derived from Aegyptus, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for Egypt, and cetus, Latin for whale. The specific name refers to Wadi Tarfa, the desert valley
where the holotype found.