Size silhouette of Peregocetus compared to a human.
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Artiodactyla
Infraorder:
Cetacea
Family:
†Protocetidae
Subfamily:
†Protocetinae
Genus:
†Peregocetus Lambert et al., 2019
Species
P. pacificus Lambert et al., 2019 (type)
Peregocetus is a genus of early whale that lived in what is now Peru during the Middle Eocene epoch.[1][2] Its fossil was uncovered in 2011 in the Yumaque Member (Paracas Formation) of the Pisco Basin at Playa Media Luna by a team consisting of members from Belgium, Peru, France, Italy, and the Netherlands.[3][4] Parts recovered include the jaw, front and hind legs, bits of spine, and tail. Olivier Lambert, a scientist at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and lead author of the study, noted that Peregocetus "fills in a crucial [knowledge] gap" about the evolution of whales and their spread.[3]
Peregocetus is the first recorded quadrupedal whale from the Pacific Ocean and the Southern Hemisphere. The discovery reveals that protocetids reached the Pacific Ocean and attained a near circumequatorial distribution while retaining functional weight-bearing limbs.[1]
^ abLambert, Olivier; Bianucci, Giovanni; Salas-Gismondi, Rodolfo; Di Celma, Claudio; Steurbaut, Etienne; Urbina, Mario; de Muizon, Christian (4 April 2019). "An amphibious whale from the Middle Eocene of Peru reveals early South Pacific dispersal of quadrupedal cetaceans". Current Biology. 29 (8): 1352–1359.e3. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2019.02.050. hdl:11581/425570. PMID 30955933.
^Wright, Pam (5 April 2019). "Fossilized Remains of Ancient 4-Legged Whale Discovered in Peru". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
^ abDevlin, Hannah (4 April 2019). "Fossil of ancient four-legged whale with hooves discovered". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
^Cite error: The named reference gizmodo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
the study, noted that Peregocetus "fills in a crucial [knowledge] gap" about the evolution of whales and their spread. Peregocetus is the first recorded...
extent postcrania are known (primarily from Rodhocetus, and more recently Peregocetus), they possess a pelvis similar to those in land-living mammals, a sacrum...
ability to move on land seems to have been variable: in Rodhocetus and Peregocetus possess a sacroiliac joint, indicating they could move on land. In other...
the prefix "cetio-" is used for whale-like or large animals. Examples: Peregocetus ("travelling whale"); Cetiosaurus ("whale lizard"); Ambulocetus ("walking...
weight on land, and others not. The discovery of the southeastern Pacific Peregocetus indicates they crossed the Atlantic and achieved circumstances-equatorial...
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