New whale species identified from 41 million-year-old fossil
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The fossils of an extinct whale species that dominated sea-covered parts of ancient Egypt 41 million years ago have been discovered.
The extraordinary fossil find was made by Mansoura University Vertebrate Paleontology Center based in Egypt.
This new-to-science ancient whale species has been scientifically named Tutcetus rayanensis.
The fossilized specimen was discovered near Fayum, embedded in a middle Eocene limestone block.
The holotype fossil consisted of the skull, jaws, hyoid bone, and atlas vertebra. Upon closer examination, the fossil revealed that the creature belonged to the basilosaurid family of extinct cetaceans (which includes whales and dolphins).
Tutcetus is noted to be the smallest known basilosaurid based on the fossil remains, which show it to be a "small-sized subadult" with an estimated length of 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) and a body mass of roughly 412 pounds (187 kilograms).
“The relatively small size of Tutcetus (188 kg) is either primitive retention or could be linked to the global warming event known as the "Late Lutetian Thermal Maximum (LLTM),” mentioned Sanaa El-Sayed, a Ph.D. student at the University of Michigan and a co-author of the study, in an official release.
The fossil sheds light on early whale evolution
The scientists highlight that the fossil gives vital information into the early evolution of basilosaurid whales.
The Basilosauridae family marks a critical period in whale evolution when they transitioned from terrestrial animals to marine ones. Tutcetus is one such fossil that beautifully depicts one of the early stages of the land-to-sea shift.
During this phase, it evolved to possess fish-like characteristics such as a streamlined body, a powerful tail, flippers, and a tail fin, and the last hind limbs were apparent enough to be identified as "legs."
Furthermore, the Tutcetus fossil remains show that the Basilosauridae whale family included a diverse range of species with varying sizes and "reveals considerable disparity among whales during the middle Eocene period."
Fossil reveals a precocial lifestyle
The researchers were able to reconstruct the growth and development history of this newly discovered species thanks to a comprehensive CT examination of preserved teeth and bones.
Tutcetus's rapid dental growth and tiny stature indicate a precocial lifestyle, meaning the species was on its own right from birth.
The Tutcetus' finding also adds to our knowledge of the basilosaurids' early success in the aquatic ecosystem despite being on land for an extended period. Individuals of this species were likely able to outcompete amphibious stem whales.
According to the team's results, this land-to-sea transition most likely happened in the (sub)tropics.
“Modern whales migrate to warmer, shallow waters for breeding and reproduction, mirroring the conditions found in Egypt 41 million years ago. This supports the idea that what is known as now Fayum was a crucial breeding area for ancient whales, possibly attracting them from various locations and, in turn, drawing in larger predatory whales like Basilosaurus,” said Abdullah Gohar, a Ph.D. student at Mansoura University and a co-author of the study.
The discovery has been reported in the journal Communications Biology.
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