Ambulocetidae Temporal range: Early Eocene,
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Ambulocetus natans | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Infraorder: | Cetacea |
Informal group: | †Archaeoceti |
Family: | †Ambulocetidae Thewissen, Madar & Hussain 1996 |
Genera[1] | |
Ambulocetidae is a family of early cetaceans from Pakistan. The genus Ambulocetus, after which the family is named, is by far the most complete and well-known ambulocetid genus due to the excavation of an 80% complete specimen of Ambulocetus natans.[2] The other two genera in the family, Gandakasia and Himalayacetus, are known only from teeth and mandibular fragments.[3] Retaining large hindlimbs, it was once thought that they could walk on land—indeed, their name means "walking whales"—, but recent research suggests they may have been fully aquatic like modern cetaceans. Though the research has some limits that cast doubt on this conclusion. [4]