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Pappocetus lugardi (Ancient whale)

SKU
M2101
In stock
$950.00
Overview

An Ultra Rare Pappocetus lugardi (Andrews, 1920) premolar tooth from Morocco. Pappocetus was in the Protocetidae family of ancient whales . Note - this tooth is a premolar with a natural wear facet and most of the root. This material is a new find and represents one of the earliest transition forms of the whale. Pappocetus is a protocetid (see discussion below) and a large amphibious aquatic carnivore. Pappocetus is also an ancestor of the Basilosaurus. This material is complete and without repair. This is an opportunity to own an incredibly rare specimen from an early evolutionary stage of the modern whale. A fantastic collector's specimen. Authenticity guaranteed.

M2101          Size: 3-5/8"  (straight line)  

Mid. Eocene (Bartonian) age  (40 MYA)

Gueran, (25 km SE of Boujdour), Boujdour Basin

West Sahara, Morocco

Note - adding six early whale teeth in August 2023.   Link to the early whales.

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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.