Name:
Maiacetus (Greek for "good mother whale"); pronounced MY-ah-SEE-tuss
Habitat:
Shores of central Asia
Historical Epoch:
Early Eocene (48 million years ago)
Size and Weight:
About 7 feet long and 600 pounds
Diet:
Fish and squids
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Medium size; amphibious lifestyle
About Maiacetus:
Discovered in Pakistan in 2004, Maiacetus ("good mother whale") shouldn't be confused with the more famous duck-billed dinosaur Maiasaura. This prehistoric whale earned its name because the fossil of an adult female was found to contain a fossilized embryo, the positioning of which hints that this genus lumbered onto land to give birth. Researchers have also discovered the near-complete fossil of a male Maiacetus, the larger size of which is evidence for early sexual dimorphism in whales.
