Ancalecetus information

Ancalecetus; Temporal range: 37.2–33.9 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
	Life restoration
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Infraorder:	Cetacea
Family:	†Basilosauridae
Genus:	†Ancalecetus; Gingerich & Uhen 1996
Species:	†A. simonsi
Binomial name
	†Ancalecetus simonsi; Gingerich & Uhen 1996

Ancalecetus (from Greek ankale, "bent arm", and ketos, "whale")^[1] is an extinct genus of early whale known from the Late Eocene (Priabonian, 37.2 to 33.9 million years ago) Birket Qarun Formation (29°18′N 30°00′E / 29.3°N 30.0°E / 29.3; 30.0, paleocoordinates 24°36′N 26°12′E / 24.6°N 26.2°E / 24.6; 26.2) in Wadi Al-Hitan, Egypt.^[2]^[3] The species is named after anthropologist and primate researcher Elwyn L. Simons who discovered the type specimen in 1985.^[1]

The holotype is a partial cranium (the top of the skull was destroyed by erosion), both dentaries, 20 vertebrae and some sternal elements, partial ribs, and most of both forelimbs. Ancalecetus differs from other archaeocetes and modern whales in having narrow scapulae, very limited mobility in the shoulder joint, and fusion of the humerus, ulna, and radius at the elbow joint. In the wrist, the carpal bones are small like in Zygorhiza, but, unlike in this other basilosaurid, the magnum is fused with the trapezoid in Ancalecetus.^[4]

^ ^a ^b Gingerich & Uhen 1996, Etymology, p. 364
^ Ancalecetus in the Paleobiology Database. Retrieved July 2013.
^ Wadi Hitan ZV-81 (Eocene of Egypt) in the Paleobiology Database. Retrieved July 2013.
^ Gingerich & Uhen 1996, pp. 363–4

[etym-1] Gingerich & Uhen 1996, Etymology, p. 364

[2] Ancalecetus in the Paleobiology Database. Retrieved July 2013.

[3] Wadi Hitan ZV-81 (Eocene of Egypt) in the Paleobiology Database. Retrieved July 2013.

[4] Gingerich & Uhen 1996, pp. 363–4

Ancalecetus information

and 30 Related for: Ancalecetus information

Ancalecetus

Dorudontinae

Tutcetus

Archaeoceti

Pakicetus

Perucetus

Ambulocetidae

Antaecetus

Rodhocetus

Protocetidae

Pachycetus

Basilosauridae

Maiacetus

Pakicetidae

Ambulocetus

Remingtonocetidae

Dorudon

Kutchicetus

Basiloterus

Basilosaurus

Zygorhiza

Nalacetus

Pachycetinae

Andrewsiphius

Dalanistes

Supayacetus

List of extinct cetaceans

Masracetus

Gandakasia

Qaisracetus