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Aetiocetidae

Mammalia - Cetacea - Aetiocetidae

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1966Aetiocetidae Emlong p. 3
1976Aetiocetidae Mchedlidze p. 7
1982Aetiocetidae Fordyce p. 424
1985Aetiocetidae Barnes et al. p. 26
1988Aetiocetidae Carroll
1993Aetiocetidae Benton p. 762
1994Aetiocetidae Fordyce and Barnes p. 428 figs. Table 1
1995Aetiocetidae Barnes et al. p. 396
1995Aetiocetidae Fordyce et al. p. 379
1997Aetiocetidae McKenna and Bell p. 375
1998Aetiocetidae Rice
2001Aetiocetidae Fordyce and de Muizon p. 176
2002Aetiocetidae Rice p. 231 figs. Table 1
2002Aetiocetidae Sanders and Barnes p. 353
2003Aetiocetidae Fordyce p. 156 figs. Figure 9.1
2003Aetiocetidae Geisler and Sanders p. 27
2005Aetiocetidae Gingerich p. 237 figs. Table 15.1
2006Aetiocetidae Bouetel and Muizon p. 383
2007Aetiocetidae Bianucci and Landini p. 45 figs. Table 2.1
2007Aetiocetidae Steeman p. 880
2008Aetiocetidae Bisconti p. 173 figs. Figure 10
2008Aetiocetidae Uhen et al. p. 610
2009Aetiocetidae Rice p. 235 figs. Table 1
2010Aetiocetidae Fitzgerald p. 370 figs. Table 1
2011Aetiocetidae Geisler et al. p. 6 figs. Table 1
2015Aetiocetidae Marx and Fordyce figs. Figure 2
2015Aetiocetidae Marx et al. p. 3
2016Aetiocetidae Marx et al. p. 105
2017Aetiocetidae Berta p. 166
2017Aetiocetidae Hernández Cisneros et al. p. 156
2018Aetiocetidae Fordyce and Marx p. 2 figs. Fig. 4
2018Aetiocetidae Peredo and Pyenson p. 4
2022Aetiocetidae Gatesy et al. p. 912
2024Aetiocetidae Hernández Cisneros and Velez-Juarbe p. 2
2024Aetiocetidae Tsai et al.

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
subclassSynapsida
Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
Mammaliamorpha
RankNameAuthor
Mammaliaformes
classMammalia
Cladotheria
Zatheria
subclassTribosphenida()
subclassTheria
Eutheria()
Placentalia
Boreoeutheria
Laurasiatheria
Scrotifera
Euungulata
Artiodactylamorpha
Artiodactyla()
Whippomorpha
orderCetacea
Pelagiceti
Neoceti
suborderMysticeti
familyAetiocetidae
familyAetiocetidae

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Fm. †Aetiocetidae Emlong 1966
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G. †Aetiocetus Emlong 1966
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Aetiocetus cotylalveus Emlong 1966
Aetiocetus palmadentis Solis-Añorve et al. 2019
Aetiocetus polydentatus Barnes et al. 1995
Aetiocetus weltoni Barnes et al. 1995
G. †Ashorocetus Barnes et al. 1995
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Invalid names: Ashorocetus eguchii Barnes et al. 1995 [nomen dubium]
G. †Chonecetus Russell 1968
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Chonecetus sookensis Russell 1968
Chonecetus tomitai Barnes et al. 1995
Invalid names: Morawanocetus Barnes et al. 1995 [synonym]
G. †Fucaia Marx et al. 2015
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Fucaia buelli Marx et al. 2015
Fucaia goedertorum Barnes et al. 1995
Fucaia humilis Tsai et al. 2024
G. †Kaaucetus Hernández-Cisneros 2022
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Kaaucetus thesaurus Hernández-Cisneros 2022
G. †Salishicetus Peredo and Pyenson 2018
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Salishicetus meadi Peredo and Pyenson 2018
G. †Tohoraata Boessenecker and Fordyce 2015
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Tohoraata raekohao Boessenecker and Fordyce 2015
Tohoraata waitakiensis Marples 1956
G. †Willungacetus Pledge 2005
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Invalid names: Willungacetus aldingensis Pledge 2005 [nomen dubium]
Invalid names: Aetiocetinae Barnes et al. 1995 [empty], Chonecetinae Barnes et al. 1995 [empty], Morawanocetinae Barnes et al. 1995 [empty]
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
L. G. Barnes et al. 1995A family of Mysticeti with functional teeth in the adult stage in both the palate and dentary; cranium with premaxilla elevated a t anterolateral corner of nasal bone, parietals exposed in the intertemporal region; sharp margin present a t the base of the temporal fossa a t front edge of squamosal fossa; tubercle present a t posterior margin of temporal fossa continuous with lambdoidal crest; squamosal fossa present and large; elongate, uninflated zygomatic process of squamosal; elliptical notch in the posterior margin of the palatine bone; anterior process of periotic closely appressed to medial side of styliform process of squamosal; carotid foramen perforating basioccipital present and of relatively large diameter; peribullary air sinus large; jugular notch shallow; coronoid process of dentary large and lobate.
A. E. Hernández Cisneros and J. Velez-Juarbe 2024The aetiocetids are relatively small toothed mysticetes with estimated body lengths usually between ∼1.8–3 m (Sander et al., 2021:data S5), with possible exceptions up to 8 m (Tsai & Ando, 2016); rostrum length
approximately ∼37–56% of condylobasal length; distinctly elevated
and step-like premaxillae at the level of the nasal opening, that laterally overhang the maxilla; proportionately large orbits
(approximately 12–17% of condylobasal length or equal to or
greater than 25% of bizygomatic width); orbit angle between
60–70°; lacrimal exposed dorsally, large and elongated incising
into the ascending process of the maxilla; supraorbital process
and orbital rim elevated to (or near) the level of the cranial
vertex; anterior half portion of nasals just anterior to the anterior
edge of the supraorbital process; intertemporal region short and
wide with a generally convex surface (rounded transverse section; differing in Aetiocetus which have a low sagittal crest); absence of a postorbital ridge (infratemporal crest); zygomatic process slender and tapered anteriorly, often dorsoventrally constricted at the middle length and dorsoventrally expanded distally; internal narial notch present; longitudinal keel in the ventrolateral edge of the basioccipital crest; small functional teeth with heterodont dentition, but tend towards polydonty with reduced, small and slender dental cusps (incipient homodonty); lower dentition with single-rooted incisors, fused double-rooted premolars and unfused double-rooted molars; vertical ridges on the post-canine teeth over the lingual surface; spaced diastema among incisors to molars; posteriormost upper teeth typically allocated anterior to the antorbital notch; coronoid process with finger-like shape; mandibular body constricted at mid-length; mandibular symphysis unfused.
Additional characters of the periotic and bulla include: short posterior process, length ∼30–50% of the total length of the periotic; posterior process with a stocky or slender cylindrical shape; posterior bullar facet lacking longitudinal grooves; short anterior process, between ∼60 to <100% of the length of pars cochlearis; anterior process not prominent dorsally (more or less continuous with the superior process); pars cochlearis with globular profile in ventral view; indistinct and blunt caudal tympanic process; bulla with elliptic shape; medial margin of the involucrum convex or nearly straight.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: hydroxyapatitesubo
Form: roller-shapedo
Ontogeny: modification of partso
Environment: marinesubo
Locomotion: actively mobileo
Life habit: aquaticsubo
Depth habitat: surfaceo
Diet: carnivoresubo
Diet 2: suspension feedersubo
Reproduction: viviparouso
Created: 2005-03-06 14:20:41
Modified: 2005-03-06 16:34:40
Source: subo = suborder, o = order
Reference: Uhen 2004

Age range: base of the Priabonian to the top of the Duntroonian or 37.71000 to 25.20000 Ma

Collections (27 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Priabonian37.71 - 33.9USA (Washington) Fucaia humilis (205032)
Rupelian33.9 - 27.3USA (Washington) Fucaia buelli (120368)
Rupelian33.9 - 27.3Australia (South Australia) Aetiocetidae indet. (45824)
Duntroonian27.3 - 25.2New Zealand Tohoraata raekohao (163849)
Duntroonian27.3 - 25.2New Zealand (North Otago) Mauicetus waitakiensis (45660 63049)
Chattian27.3 - 23.04USA (Oregon) Aetiocetidae indet. (57055) Aetiocetus cotylalveus (45782 57052 57053 57054) Aetiocetus weltoni (45788)
Chattian27.3 - 23.04Canada (British Columbia) Chonecetus sookensis (45783)
Chattian27.3 - 23.04USA (Washington) Aetiocetidae indet. (56871) Chonecetus goedertorum (45784) Salishicetus meadi (185376)
Chattian27.3 - 23.04Japan (Hokkaido) Aetiocetidae indet. (162501) Aetiocetus tomitai (45787) Ashorocetus eguchii (45785) Morawanocetus yabukii, Morawanocetinae indet., Aetiocetus polydentatus (45786)
Chattian27.3 - 23.04Mexico (Baja California Sur) Aetiocetidae indet. (66429) Aetiocetus sp., Aetiocetidae indet. (45695) Aetiocetus sp., Niparajacetus palmadentis (183475) Chonecetus sp. (185159) Kaaucetus thesaurus (185160)
Chattian27.3 - 23.04Japan (Fukuoka) Aetiocetus sp., Aetiocetidae indet. (76045)
Late/Upper Oligocene27.3 - 23.04Japan Aetiocetidae indet. (183070)