Nalacetus

Nalacetus
Nalacetus
Temporal range: Early Eocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetacea
Suborder: Archaeoceti
Family: Pakicetidae
Genus: Nalacetus
Thewissen & Hussain, 1998
Binomial name
Nalacetus ratimitus
Thewissen and Hussain, 1998

Nalacetus is an extinct genus of mammal belonging to the family Pakicetidae which were endemic to southern Asia living during the Lutenian stage of the Middle Eocene (48.6 mya—40.4 mya) and existing for approximately 8.4 million years.[1]

It was said to be wolf-sized and one of the earliest forms of the order Cetacea. The fossil record is exclusive to northern Pakistan. Nalacetus was named by Thewissen and Hussain in 1998. Its type is Nalacetus ratimitus. It was considered monophyletic by Uhen (2010).

References

Portal icon Cetaceans portal
Portal icon Paleontology portal