Pappocetus lugardi (Ancient whale)

Protocetids – Whale ancestor 

Pappocetus was a protocetid. The protocetids represent the one of earliest forms of whale development when they were transitioning from the land to the sea. The protocetids had large fore-limbs and hindlimbs that could support the body on land, and they were most likely amphibious – capable of living on land and in the sea. Certain characteristics show that the protocetids were adapting to an aquatic life including lack of fusion of the pelvic vertebrae (allowing tail movement) and nostrils that have moved halfway up their snout. Pappocetus is in the Georgiacetinae sub-family which makes it the direct ancestor to the Basilosaurus, a well know extinct primitive whale from the Eocene.

Regarding the Pappocetus, their robust tooth and root structure suggests that they were an aquatic carnivore capable of consuming significant prey.