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15" Fossil Primitive Whale (Pappocetus) Front Jaws
This is a really cool and impressive specimen. It is the front jaws including rostrum of a 40 million year old primitive whale (Pappocetus lugardi). It comes from the Aridal Formation near Boujdour, Morocco and measures 15" in length. The jaws contain thirteen huge, interlocking teeth. The piece has been stabilized and the original plaster cast from collection was left in place creating a nice base.
About Pappocetus
Pappocetus is a genus of extinct protocetid cetacean. Protocetids are considered to be one of the earliest examples of whale development during the time they were transitioning from land to sea. Fossil records indicate that they are Middle Eocene in age, existing after Pakicetus (earliest known whale) and prior to Zygorhiza (basilosaurid). These protocetids had become much more whale-like in appearance, featuring a more streamlined body with paddle-like forelegs, and hind-limbs that were greatly reduced in size. Their robust teeth and root structures suggest that they were aquatic carnivores, relying on smell and vision as their most important senses for hunting prey. It's unlikely that by this point they had developed echolocation systems used by modern whales.
Pappocetus is a genus of extinct protocetid cetacean. Protocetids are considered to be one of the earliest examples of whale development during the time they were transitioning from land to sea. Fossil records indicate that they are Middle Eocene in age, existing after Pakicetus (earliest known whale) and prior to Zygorhiza (basilosaurid). These protocetids had become much more whale-like in appearance, featuring a more streamlined body with paddle-like forelegs, and hind-limbs that were greatly reduced in size. Their robust teeth and root structures suggest that they were aquatic carnivores, relying on smell and vision as their most important senses for hunting prey. It's unlikely that by this point they had developed echolocation systems used by modern whales.
SPECIES
Pappocetus lugardi
LOCATION
Gueran, Boujdour, Western Sahara, Morocco
FORMATION
Aridal Formation
SIZE
15" long
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#234637
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