Hubbry Logo
DorudonDorudonMain
Open search
Dorudon
Community hub
Dorudon
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Dorudon
Dorudon
Dorudon
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Dorudon
Temporal range: Eocene (Bartonian to Priabonian), 41.03–33.9 Ma
Dorudon atrox, Senckenberg Museum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: †Basilosauridae
Subfamily: †Dorudontinae
Genus: †Dorudon
Gibbes 1845
Species[2]
Synonyms

Dorudon ("spear-tooth") is a genus of extinct basilosaurid ancient whales that lived alongside Basilosaurus 41.03 to 33.9 million years ago in the Eocene. It was a small whale, with D. atrox measuring 5 metres (16 ft) long and weighing 1–2.2 metric tons (1.1–2.4 short tons). Dorudon lived in warm seas around the world and fed on small fish and mollusks. Fossils have been found along the former shorelines of the Tethys Sea in present-day Egypt and Pakistan, as well as in the United States, New Zealand and Western Sahara.[2]

Taxonomic history

[edit]
Size of Dorudon (upper left) compared to closely related basilosaurids and a human

Gibbes 1845 described Dorudon serratus based on a fragmentary maxilla and a few teeth found in South Carolina. He concluded that the teeth must have belonged to a mammal since they were two-rooted, that they must have been teeth from a juvenile since they were hollow, and also noted their similarity to the teeth then described for Zeuglodon (Basilosaurus).[4] When exploring the type locality, Gibbes discovered a lower jaw and twelve caudal vertebrae, which he felt obliged to assign to Zeuglodon together with his original material. Gibbes concluded that Dorudon were juvenile Zeuglodon and consequently withdrew his new genus. He did, however, allow Louis Agassiz at Harvard to examine his specimens, and the Swiss professor replied that these were neither teeth of a juvenile nor those of Zeuglodon, but of a separate genus just as Gibbes had first proposed.[5]

Andrews 1906 described Prozeuglodon atrox (="Proto-Basilosaurus") based on a nearly complete skull, a dentary and three associated vertebrae presented to him by the Geological Museum of Cairo.[1] Kellogg 1936,[6] however, realized that Andrews' specimen was a juvenile, and, he assumed, the same species as Zeuglodon isis, described by Andrews 1906. Kellogg also realized that the generic name Zeuglodon was invalid and therefore recombined it Prozeuglodon isis.[7] Since then many specimens have been referred to Prozeuglodon atrox, including virtually every part of the skeleton, and it has become obvious that it is a separate genus, not a juvenile "Proto-Zeuglodon".[7][8] Kellogg placed several of the species of Zeuglodon described from Egypt in the early 20th century (including Z. osiris, Z. zitteli, Z. elliotsmithii and Z. sensitivius) in the genus Dorudon. Gingerich 1992 synonymized these four species and grouped them as Saghacetus osiris.[7]

The current taxonomic status of Dorudon is based on Uhen 2004's revision of Dorudon and detailed description of D. atrox. Before this, the taxonomy of Dorudon was in disarray and based on a limited set of specimens.

Virtually complete Dorudon atrox skeleton excavated at Wadi El Hitan, displayed at the University of Michigan museum

D. atrox is known from Egypt,[9] D. serratus from Georgia and South Carolina in the United States.[10] The type species D. serratus was, and still is, based solely on two partial maxillae with a few teeth, cranial fragments, and a dozen vertebrae with some additional material, collected but not described by Gibbes, and referred to the type species. Before Uhen 2004, D. atrox was based solely on Andrews holotype skull, lower jaw, and the vertebrae he referred to it,[11] but is now the best-known archaeocete species.[8]

The two species of Dorudon differ from other members of Dorudontinae mainly in size: they are considerably larger than Saghacetus and slightly larger than Zygorhiza, but also differ from both these genera in dental and/or cranial morphology. The limited known material for D. serratus makes it difficult to compare the two species of Dorudon. Uhen 2004 placed D. atrox in the same genus as D. serratus because of similarities in size and morphology, but kept them as separate species because of differences in dental morphology. Even though D. serratus is the type species, the description of Dorudon is largely based on D. atrox because of its completeness. The cranial morphology of D. atrox makes it distinct from all other archaeocetes.[12]

Description

[edit]
Restoration of D. serratus
Dorudon hind limbs, at Smithsonian Natural History Museum, Washington, D.C.
(1) Upper incisors and canine (2) Upper premolars and molars
(1) Lower incisors and canine, (2) premolars and (3) molars

Dorudon was a medium-sized whale, with D. atrox reaching 5 metres (16 ft) in length and 1–2.2 metric tons (1.1–2.4 short tons) in body mass.[13][14] Dorudontines were originally believed to be juvenile individuals of Basilosaurus as their fossils are similar but smaller. They have since been shown to be a different genus with the discovery of Dorudon juveniles. Although they look very much like modern whales, basilosaurines and dorudontines lacked the melon organ that would allow their descendants to use echolocation as effectively as modern whales. Like other basilosaurids, their nostrils were midway from the snout to the top of the head.

Dentition

[edit]

The dental formula for Dorudon atrox is 3.1.4.23.1.4.3.[15]

Typical for cetaceans, the upper incisors are aligned with the cheek teeth, and, except the small I1, separated by large diastemata containing pits into which the lower incisors fit. The upper incisors are simple conical teeth with a single root, lacking accessory denticles, and difficult to distinguish from lower incisors. The upper incisors are missing in most specimens and are only known from two specimens. The upper canine is a little larger than the upper incisors, and, like them, directed slightly buccally and mesially.[15]

P1, only preserved in a single specimen, is the only single-rooted upper premolar. Apparently, P1 is conical, smaller than the remaining premolars and lacks accessory denticles. P2 is the largest upper tooth and the first in the upper row with large accessory denticles. Like the more posterior premolars, it is buccolingually compressed and double-rooted. It has a dominant central protocone flanked by denticles that decrease in size mesially and distally, resulting in a tooth with a triangular profile. P3 is similar to but slightly smaller than P2, except that it has a projection on the lingual side which is the remnant of a third root. In P4, smaller than P2–3, the larger distal root is formed by the fusion of two roots.[15]

The upper molars extend onto the zygomatic arch and are considerably smaller than their neighbouring premolars. Like P4, their distal root is wider than the mesial and formed by the fusion of two roots. The profiles of the molars are more rounded than those of the premolars.[15]

Similar to the upper incisors, the lower incisors are simple conical teeth curved distally and aligned with the cheek teeth. I1, the smallest tooth, is sitting on the anteriormost portion of the dentary, with its alveolus left open towards the mandibular symphysis and located as close to the alveolus of I2 as it can. I2, I3 and C1 are very similar, considerably larger than I1.[16]

The lower premolars are double-rooted, buccolingually compressed teeth, except the deciduous P1 which is single-rooted. P3 is the second-largest cheek tooth, P4 the largest; both are very similar, dominated by the central cusp.[16]

In the lower molars, the accessory denticles on the mesial edges are replaced by a deep groove called the reentrant groove. The apical cusp is the primitive protoconid. M2 and M3 are morphologically very similar. M3 is sitting high on the ascending mandibular ramus.[16]

Dorudon skull

Skull

[edit]

According to study of its endocranium, the encephalisation of D. atrox was no greater than that of terrestrial mesonychians.[17]

Paleoecology

[edit]

Dorudon calves may have fallen prey to hungry Basilosaurus, as shown by unhealed bite marks on the skulls of some juvenile Dorudon.[18]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Dorudon

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Dorudon is an extinct of primitive belonging to the family , known from the middle to late Eocene epoch approximately 40 to 34 million years ago. This fully aquatic measured about 5 meters in length and weighed around 2,240 kilograms, comparable in size to a modern , with a streamlined body adapted for swimming, including a powerful fluke for propulsion and reduced hind limbs. Fossils of Dorudon atrox have been primarily discovered in the Wadi Al-Hitan (Valley of the Whales) in , within formations such as the Gehannam, Birket Qarun, and Qasr el-Sagha, revealing a carnivorous diet likely consisting of , as indicated by its conical, interlocking teeth and robust structure. As a key transitional form in cetacean evolution, Dorudon exhibits skeletal features bridging early land-dwelling ancestors and modern whales, such as an elongate with retracted nasal openings for streamlined swimming, laterally oriented eyes for , and specialized structures enabling directional hearing in water. Its , including forelimbs modified for steering rather than weight-bearing and a modest braincase, underscores the complete adaptation to oceanic life, with no evidence of . Initially misidentified in the as a juvenile form of the larger Basilosaurus, Dorudon was later recognized as a distinct , providing critical insights into the diversification of archaeocetes and the origins of both and toothed whales. Studies of its postcranial highlight proportional changes from to fully pelagic lifestyles, marking a pivotal stage in the land-to-sea transition of cetaceans.

Discovery and Taxonomy

Initial Discovery

The fossils now recognized as belonging to Dorudon were first discovered in the Eocene strata of Wadi Al-Hitan within the Fayum Depression, , during early 20th-century expeditions led by Charles William Andrews of the (Natural History). These remains were recovered from the Birket Qarun Formation, a late Eocene () coastal deposit rich in fossils. Andrews' work built on prior surveys, including those by Hugh John Macalister Beadnell in 1901, which had identified whale bones in the region but not yet distinguished smaller forms from larger ones. In 1906, Andrews formally described the material as a new genus and species, Prozeuglodon atrox, interpreting it as a primitive relative of the larger archaeocete whale Basilosaurus (then known as Zeuglodon). The description was based on partial skeletons, including skulls, lower jaws, and vertebrae, which highlighted the animal's relatively small size—estimated at about 5 meters in length—contrasting with the elongated bodies of Basilosaurus specimens exceeding 15 meters. The holotype, CGM 9319, consists of a partial juvenile skull and associated skeletal elements that provided early insights into its cetacean affinities, though the genus name Prozeuglodon was later synonymized with Dorudon. Subsequent excavations in the early , coordinated through the Egyptian Geological Survey and British institutions, uncovered over 1,000 specimens attributable to Dorudon and related basilosaurids, transforming Wadi Al-Hitan into a premier site for studying Eocene whale . These finds, many preserved in three dimensions with articulated skeletons, underscored the site's exceptional taphonomic conditions and its role in documenting the transition from land to fully aquatic cetaceans. In recognition of this paleontological significance, Wadi Al-Hitan was inscribed as a in 2005.

Taxonomic Revisions

In 1985, Lawrence G. Barnes and colleagues formalized the subfamily Dorudontinae within to classify smaller, more compact archaeocetes like Dorudon, distinguishing them from the larger, more elongated based on differences in body size, vertebral column proportions, and overall skeletal robustness. This reclassification emphasized Dorudon's separation as a distinct genus, previously often lumped with due to superficial similarities in cranial and dental features, but supported by quantitative assessments of presacral and caudal vertebrae counts that showed Dorudon had fewer elements in key regions. Subsequent synonymies refined the species-level . Dorudon serratus (originally described by Gibbes in ) was treated as a junior of D. atrox by later workers owing to comparable rostral proportions and in fragmentary North American material, reducing redundancy in the . Similarly, D. isis was invalidated as a distinct due to insufficient diagnostic material—primarily isolated teeth and vertebrae lacking unique apomorphies—and reassigned to Basilosaurus isis, reflecting its alignment with larger basilosaurine forms rather than the dorudontine grade. Debates in the centered on whether Dorudon specimens represented multiple or merely ontogenetic variation, with some proposing that smaller individuals were immature rather than separate taxa, based on growth series from Egyptian localities. These issues were largely resolved by 2010s analyses, including histological and morphometric studies of growth patterns, which confirmed D. atrox as the primary valid with consistent adult traits like a relatively short rostrum and reduced vestiges, independent of basilosaurine . Placement in Basilosauridae's Dorudontinae underscores Dorudon's status as a transitional archaeocete, bridging earlier forms and fully pelagic crown cetaceans through features like a flexible vertebral column suited for tail-powered propulsion and advanced auditory adaptations.

Phylogenetic Position

Dorudon is recognized as a derived basilosaurid within the subfamily Dorudontinae, forming a with and exhibiting shared synapomorphies such as reduced hind limbs and elongated snouts that distinguish them from earlier archaeocetes like protocetids. This positioning is supported by cladistic analyses emphasizing cranial and postcranial features, where Dorudon serves as the sister taxon to within Basilosauridae, reflecting a late Eocene diversification of fully aquatic cetaceans. Morphological phylogenies from the 2020s, including those integrating extensive character matrices, consistently place Dorudon as a close outgroup to crown Cetacea (encompassing modern Mysticeti and Odontoceti), acting as a transitional form between primitive archaeocetes and the radiation of extant whales. For instance, Gingerich et al. (2022) analyzed vertebral and cranial data from multiple basilosaurid taxa, confirming Dorudon's role in bridging archaeocete lineages to the crown group through generalized anatomical traits that prefigure adaptations in both toothed and whales. These analyses highlight Basilosauridae's and Dorudontinae's position as stem-group cetaceans, with no significant shifts in reported since comprehensive studies in the . Inner ear morphology in Dorudon, characterized by cochlear features intermediate between terrestrial mammals and modern odontocetes, provides evidence for emerging auditory specializations that align more closely with odontocete affinities than mysticete, potentially indicating rudimentary capabilities for directional hearing in aquatic environments, though not full ultrasonic echolocation. This supports Dorudon's placement near the base of the odontocete lineage in some trees, distinguishing it from mysticete precursors. The phylogenetic stability of Dorudon has persisted without alteration from recent discoveries, with Dorudontinae upheld as a monophyletic group that includes genera like Ancalacetus, based on shared vertebral proportions and dental patterns that unify them as a derived basilosaurid . This consensus, drawn from parsimony-based analyses since 2010, underscores Dorudon's enduring role as a key transitional in cetacean evolution.

Anatomy

Body Size and Proportions

Dorudon atrox, a representative basilosaurid archaeocete, attained an average adult body length of approximately 5 meters (16 feet), with some composite skeletons from the collection suggesting maximum lengths up to 5.2 meters. This size positioned Dorudon as a medium-sized predator within Eocene marine ecosystems, smaller than its contemporary but comparable to modern delphinids in scale. The overall body plan was streamlined and , optimized for efficient swimming through ancient Tethyan seas, with a disproportionately large head measuring about 0.85 meters in length, a short neck comprising seven , and a robust supported by 17 thoracic and 20 . The tail region, inferred to power propulsion via a fluke, included 21 caudal vertebrae with enlarged chevron bones indicating strong depressor musculature. This compact build emphasized caudal propulsion over pectoral limb use, with reduced hind limbs as a key aquatic adaptation. Body mass estimates for adults range from 1,150 to 2,240 kilograms, derived from allometric scaling of skeletal dimensions and volumetric modeling of well-preserved specimens such as those in the collection. These figures reflect a dense, muscular physique suited to predatory pursuits, though variations may arise from methodological differences in reconstruction. Evidence from fossil canines suggests possible , with males potentially up to 10% larger in overall length.

Cranial Anatomy

The skull of Dorudon atrox exhibits a highly specialized cranial architecture adapted for an aquatic predatory lifestyle, with the rostrum forming the dominant feature. The elongated rostrum comprises approximately 70-80% of the total skull length and tapers to a narrow, pointed anterior end, facilitating the grasping and manipulation of elusive prey such as in underwater environments; this morphology parallels the rostral design observed in extant dolphins, emphasizing in cetacean feeding strategies. In the temporal region, large zygomatic processes extend from the squamosals, forming robust zygomatic arches that anchor powerful jaw adductor muscles, including an enhanced temporalis supported by a prominent . The braincase is notably compact relative to the overall size, with limited that nonetheless accommodated enlarged temporal lobes, suggesting advanced neural for sensory integration in a fully aquatic . The are retracted posteriorly to a position above the anterior premolars, representing an early stage in the evolutionary migration of the nares toward a dorsal blowhole configuration that would minimize water intake during surfacing. Orbits are positioned dorsally on a broad frontal , enabling enhanced surface-oriented vision while submerged, a key for detecting prey near the water's interface. Ontogenetic changes are evident in D. atrox skulls, with juvenile specimens displaying more gracile features and thinner cranial elements compared to adults, which develop increased robustness including a thicker supraoccipital for structural against hydrodynamic stresses. These differences highlight growth-related modifications that enhanced durability in mature individuals engaged in active predation.

Dentition

Dorudon atrox possessed a heterodont dentition characterized by distinct tooth morphologies adapted for carnivory, with a permanent dental formula of 3.1.4.2 (upper)/3.1.4.3 (lower), resulting in approximately 42 teeth in total. The anterior teeth included three conical incisors and one canine per quadrant, totaling 8 per jaw, which were single-rooted, slightly curved, and designed for piercing and seizing prey such as fish. These incisors and canines lacked accessory denticles and featured a midline ridge on the canines, with sizes increasing posteriorly; for example, upper incisors ranged from about 10-15 mm in length, while canines reached up to 20 mm. Following these were the cheek teeth—four premolars and two to three molars per quadrant, totaling around 34 across both jaws—which were buccolingually compressed, triangular in outline, and equipped with multiple accessory denticles along serrated edges for efficient shearing of flesh. Premolars and molars were double-rooted (except the upper first premolar), with the largest, such as the second premolar, measuring up to 18.7 mm in length and 15.4 mm in height. The enamel on Dorudon teeth was relatively thick, ranging from 0.35 to 0.78 mm, providing durability for processing prey and resisting wear during feeding on marine vertebrates. Tooth sizes exhibited a clear , with largest anteriorly and decreasing posteriorly toward the molars, which were more reduced in the upper jaw. This arrangement, combined with the elongation of the rostrum, facilitated a powerful bite for capturing and manipulating prey. Enamel surfaces showed and crenulations near the base, particularly buccally and lingually, enhancing structural integrity against the stresses of aquatic predation. Fossil evidence reveals wear patterns consistent with a primarily piscivorous diet, including heavy apical wear on anterior cusps from piercing soft-bodied and moderate shearing wear on cheek teeth denticles from slicing flesh. contents from specimens, such as bones found near the in UM 101222, confirm consumption of , with occasional indications of harder prey inferred from enamel preservation and cingular erosion in older individuals. Dorudon exhibited diphyodonty, with replaced during —such as the unusual early replacement of the first —but no of ongoing replacement in adults, limiting repair after heavy use. In D. atrox, the molars and s displayed greater robustness and complexity, with multiple cusps and denticles, compared to potential synonyms like Zygorhiza kochi, which had simpler morphologies and different eruption sequences. This enhanced shearing capability in D. atrox underscores its as an active predator in Eocene marine ecosystems, distinguishing it from less specialized relatives.

Postcranial Skeleton

The postcranial skeleton of Dorudon reflects its fully aquatic adaptations, with modifications emphasizing streamlined propulsion and steering while retaining vestiges of terrestrial ancestry. The consists of 7 , 17 , 20 , no sacrals ( disarticulated from vertebral column), and 21 caudal vertebrae, providing an elongated vertebral column that supported undulatory swimming. This configuration allowed for flexibility in the trunk and tail, essential for tail-powered locomotion, while the cervical region remained short and rigid, similar to modern cetaceans. The , numbering around 17 pairs, were broad and flattened, attaching to the thoracic vertebrae to form a robust but flexible thoracic basket that enclosed the viscera without hindering lateral bending. The forelimbs of Dorudon are transformed into paddle-like flippers suited for hydrodynamic control rather than propulsion. The is notably short, measuring approximately 20 cm in length, with a broad, flattened shaft that articulates with the via a permitting some rotation but limited overall excursion. Distally, the and are closely appressed and partially fused, eliminating mobility and forming a rigid that extends the flipper's streamlined profile; this structure, combined with elongated metacarpals and phalanges, results in hyperphalangy where digits can bear up to 18 phalanges, enhancing the flipper's surface area for steering and stability during swimming. The manus exhibits five digits with irregular phalangeal formulas, such as 2-6-8-5-4, but the overall flipper lacks claws and is encased in , adapted for maneuvering rather than grasping. In contrast, the hind limbs are vestigial and non-functional for locomotion, measuring 20–30 cm in total length and projecting slightly from the body wall. These appendages include a small (about 10–15 cm long), a shorter and that are co-ossified, and reduced digits with only 2–3 phalanges each, forming a diminutive foot-like structure. The is detached from the and vertebral column, connected only by ligaments and muscles, which precludes any weight-bearing role and underscores the complete shift to aquatic life. Such reduced hind limbs likely served auxiliary functions, such as aiding in copulation, rather than contributing to movement. The of Dorudon is a primary locomotor organ, terminating in specialized caudal vertebrae that supported a bilobed fluke. The 30–40 caudal vertebrae taper progressively, with the terminal ones exhibiting dorsoventrally flattened centra and prominent facets for chevron bones on their ventral surfaces, indicating robust haemal arches that protected vascular structures and anchored powerful tail musculature. These chevron facets, particularly evident from the mid-caudal region onward, facilitated the expansion of depressor muscles necessary for the oscillatory motion of a tail fluke, enabling efficient thrust generation akin to that in extant cetaceans. Although no direct soft-tissue evidence of the fluke exists, the skeletal morphology strongly suggests its presence as a key for .

Paleobiology and Ecology

Temporal and Geographic Range

Dorudon inhabited the late Eocene epoch, specifically during the stage from approximately 40.4 to 33.9 million years ago, with the bulk of fossils originating from deposits spanning the Bartonian-Priabonian transition. The genus is primarily documented from Wadi Al-Hitan in , a key site along the ancient Tethys Sea margin, where over 500 specimens have been unearthed from peri-Tethyan shallow marine deposits of the Gehannam, Birket Qarun, and Qasr el-Sagha Formations. While the majority of well-preserved fossils, particularly of D. atrox, are from peri-Tethyan settings, the genus also includes D. serratus from North American localities such as and Georgia. Secondary localities include the Habib Rahi Formation in , underscoring its distribution across Tethyan coastal environments.

Habitat and Lifestyle

Dorudon inhabited shallow coastal marine environments within the warm, tropical waters of the late Eocene , as preserved in the Gehannam and Birket Qarun Formations at . The site's depositional context, including associated fossils and a diverse assemblage of marine vertebrates such as sirenians, , and bony fishes, points to sheltered lagoonal settings partially isolated from the open by offshore reefs, with water depths likely in the tens of meters conducive to nearshore ecosystems. Fossil assemblages at Wadi Al-Hitan, featuring clusters of multiple individuals including numerous neonatal and juvenile skeletons, indicate social grouping behavior, potentially in pods for protection during vulnerable life stages. These concentrations support the interpretation of the locality as a calving ground, where birthing and early rearing occurred in the relative safety of shallow, protected waters. Locomotion in Dorudon relied on tail-powered propulsion via lumbar and caudal undulation, with the forelimbs modified into flippers for maneuvering and hydrodynamic control. The presence of vestigial hind limbs, reduced to small pelvic elements, suggests minimal role in primary swimming but possible utility in fine adjustments or reproductive behaviors. Ontogenetic patterns reveal that juveniles remained in nearshore, sheltered bays such as those at Wadi Al-Hitan for calving and initial growth, while adults exhibited greater mobility into offshore regions based on the distribution of larger skeletons across depositional . evidence from these sites shows no indications of seasonal migration, with all stages concentrated in the same paleoenvironmental settings.

Diet and Predatory Interactions

Dorudon was a carnivorous predator with a diet primarily consisting of , as evidenced by rare preserved gut contents containing bones of at least two different in specimens of D. atrox from the late Eocene of . Microwear analysis of Dorudon teeth further indicates a mixed diet that included alongside cephalopods such as , mollusks, and crustaceans, reflecting adaptations for processing a variety of hard-shelled marine prey through crushing and shearing. Co-occurring like pycnodonts in the Tethys Sea likely formed part of this prey base, though direct evidence from gut contents points to s as the dominant component. The dentition of Dorudon, featuring robust molars and premolars with some for shearing, was suited to dismembering medium-sized prey up to approximately 1 meter in length, such as schools of small to moderate . Tooth wear patterns show moderate pitting and scratching consistent with occasional ingestion of harder items like or beaks, but without extreme breakage that would suggest bone-crushing specialization. No quantitative bite force estimates are available specifically for Dorudon, but its cranial proportions imply forces adequate for subduing agile aquatic prey without the extreme power seen in larger contemporaries. As a mid-level in Eocene marine food webs, Dorudon occupied a trophic position above primary consumers like but below apex predators, with no evidence of scavenging behaviors in its feeding ecology. Juveniles, measuring 1.5–2 meters, were particularly vulnerable to predation by adult Basilosaurus isis, as demonstrated by healed and lethal bite marks on multiple juvenile Dorudon skulls from Al-Hitan, , matching the of B. isis. These interactions positioned Dorudon in a competitive niche with other small archaeocetes for shared resources in coastal Tethyan habitats.

References

  1. https://lsa.umich.edu/content/dam/paleontology-assets/paleontology-documents/beyond-exhibits/Information_module_Dorudon.pdf
  2. https://lsa.umich.edu/paleontology/resources/beyond-exhibits/dorudon-atrox.html
  3. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/paleobiology/article/landtosea-transition-in-early-whales-evolution-of-eocene-archaeoceti-cetacea-in-relation-to-skeletal-proportions-and-locomotion-of-living-semiaquatic-mammals/316E55A4BD97A3CDF35BE6B5FCBBA5C4
  4. https://archive.org/details/cu31924003891664
  5. https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=53288
  6. https://whc.unesco.org/document/168874
  7. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4899-0159-0_2
  8. https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/129905
  9. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10415296/
  10. https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/en/periodiques/geodiversitas/39/1/anatomie-et-affinites-phylogenetiques-de-cynthiacetus-peruvianus-un-grand-basilosauride-ressemblant-dorudon-cetacea-mammalia-de-l-eocene-superieur-du-perou
  11. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0276110
  12. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1096-0031.2007.00187.x
  13. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4313896/
  14. https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2012-issue-3-articles/339-archaeocete-predation
  15. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/30849429_Form_Function_and_Anatomy_of_Dorudon_Atrox_Mammalia_Cetacea_An_Archaeocete_from_the_Middle_to_Late_Eocene_of_Egypt
  16. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982217307042
  17. https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/41255
  18. https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/48670/ID577.pdf?sequence=2
  19. https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/48634/ID500.pdf
  20. https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ar.20532
  21. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/34248555_From_Dorudon_to_finbacks_Comparative_anatomy_and_evolution_of_the_baleen_whale_forelimb
  22. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982220308289
  23. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-51963-w
  24. https://www.si.edu/object/nmnhpaleobiology_3342203
  25. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327400100_A_fossil_rhizome_at_the_mangrove_site_of_Wadi_Hitan_Egypt
  26. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/40662649_Land-to-sea_transition_in_early_whales_Evolution_of_Eocene_Archaeoceti_Cetacea_in_relation_to_skeletal_proportions_and_locomotion_of_living_semiaquatic_mammals
  27. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031018213003209
  28. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6326415/
  29. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257303774_Paleoecology_of_archaeocete_whales_throughout_the_Eocene_Dietary_adaptations_revealed_by_microwear_analysis
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.