Chonecetus
Encyclopedia
Chonecetus is an extinct genus of Neocene Aetiocetidae that lived in the Oligocene
period. Its fossils have been found in Canada
, in the northeast Pacific. It was first named by L.S. Russell in 1968, and contains two species, C. sookensis and C. goedertorum (Barnes et al. 1995). It is possibly an Archaeoceti
, although a neocene member of this group is rare.
Like Aetiocetus
, Chonecetus possessed both multicusped teeth and the nutrient foramina required for baleen
. 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.
Oligocene
The Oligocene is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present . As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period are well identified but the exact dates of the start and end of the period are slightly...
period. Its fossils have been found in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, in the northeast Pacific. It was first named by L.S. Russell in 1968, and contains two species, C. sookensis and C. goedertorum (Barnes et al. 1995). It is possibly an Archaeoceti
Archaeoceti
Archaeocetes, or "ancient whales", are a paraphyletic group of cetaceans that gave rise to the modern cetaceans.The archaeocetes were once thought to have evolved from the mesonychids, based on dental characteristics...
, although a neocene member of this group is rare.
Like Aetiocetus
Aetiocetus
Aetiocetus is an extinct genus of baleen whale that lived 25 million years ago, in the Oligocene period. Its fossils have been found in the North Pacific, around Oregon. It was first named by Douglas Emlong in 1966 and currently contains four species, A cotylalveus, A. polydentatus, A. tomitai,...
, Chonecetus possessed both multicusped teeth and the nutrient foramina required for baleen
Baleen
Baleen or whalebone is a filter-feeder system inside the mouths of baleen whales. The baleen system works when a whale opens its mouth underwater and then water pours into the whale's mouth. The whale then pushes the water out, and animals such as krill are filtered by the baleen and remain as food...
. 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.
Sister Taxa
- AetiocetusAetiocetusAetiocetus is an extinct genus of baleen whale that lived 25 million years ago, in the Oligocene period. Its fossils have been found in the North Pacific, around Oregon. It was first named by Douglas Emlong in 1966 and currently contains four species, A cotylalveus, A. polydentatus, A. tomitai,...
- AshorocetusAshorocetusAshorocetus is an extinct genus of Aetiocetidae. It was first named by L.G. Barnes et al. in 1995, and contains one species, A. eguchii.-Sister Taxa:*Aetiocetus*Chonecetus*Morawanocetus*Willungacetus-Sources:...
- MorawanocetusMorawanocetusMorawanocetus is an extinct genus of Aetiocetidae from the Oligocene period. Its fossils have been found in the North Pacific. It was first named by Barnes et al. in 1995, and contains one species, M. yabukii...
- WillungacetusWillungacetusWillungacetus is an extinct genus of Aetiocetidae which existed during the Oligocene period. Its fossils have been found in Australia. It was first named by Pledge in 2005, though he had discovered it at Port Willunga in 2001, and contains one species, W. aldingensis...
Suggested further reading
- Marine Mammal Biology: An Evolutionary Approach By A. Rus Hoelzel. Published 2002 Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 0632052325