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Science 13 July 1990:
Vol. 249. no. 4965, pp. 154 - 157
DOI: 10.1126/science.249.4965.154
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Articles

Hind Limbs of Eocene Basilosaurus: Evidence of Feet in Whales

Philip D. Gingerich 1, B. Holly Smith 2, and Elwyn L. Simons 3

1 Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079
2 Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079
3 Duke University Primate Center and Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, 3706 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27705

New specimens of middle Eocene Basilosaurus isis from Egypt include the first functional pelvic limb and foot bones known in Cetacea. These are important in corroborating the intermediate evolutionary position of archaeocetes between generalized Paleocene land mammals that used hind limbs in locomotion and Oligocene-to- Recent whales that lack functional pelvic limbs. The foot is paraxonic, consistent with derivation from mesonychid Condylarthra. Hind limbs of Basilosaurus are interpreted as copulatory guides.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
THE POSTCRANIAL SKELETON OF EARLY EOCENE PAKICETID CETACEANS.
S. I. MADAR (2007)
Journal of Paleontology 81, 176-200
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Developmental basis for hind-limb loss in dolphins and origin of the cetacean bodyplan.
J. G. M. Thewissen, M. J. Cohn, L. S. Stevens, S. Bajpai, J. Heyning, and W. E. Horton Jr. (2006)
PNAS 103, 8414-8418
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Osedax: Bone-Eating Marine Worms with Dwarf Males.
G. W. Rouse, S. K. Goffredi, and R. C. Vrijenhoek (2004)
Science 305, 668-671
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Land-to-sea transition in early whales: evolution of Eocene Archaeoceti (Cetacea) in relation to skeletal proportions and locomotion of living semiaquatic mammals.
(2003)
Paleobiology 29, 429-454
The Phylogenetic Position of Cetaceans: Further Combined Data Analyses, Comparisons with the Stratigraphic Record and a Discussion of Character Optimization.
M. A. O'Leary (2001)
Integr. Comp. Biol. 41, 487-506
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Phylogenetic relationships among cetartiodactyls based on insertions of short and long interpersed elements: Hippopotamuses are the closest extant relatives of whales.
M. Nikaido, A. P. Rooney, and N. Okada (1999)
PNAS 96, 10261-10266
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Energetics of locomotion by the Australian water rat (Hydromys chrysogaster): a comparison of swimming and running in a semi-aquatic mammal.
F. Fish and R. Baudinette (1999)
J. Exp. Biol. 202, 353-363
   Abstract »    PDF »
The interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein gene in therian mammals: Implications for higher level relationships and evidence for loss of function in the marsupial mole.
M. S. Springer, A. Burk, J. R. Kavanagh, V. G. Waddell, and M. J. Stanhope (1997)
PNAS 94, 13754-13759
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
What Is a Whale?.
A. Berta and A. Berta (1994)
Science 263, 180-181
   PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)