HIND LIMBS OF EOCENE BASILOSAURUS - EVIDENCE OF FEET IN WHALES

被引：151

作者：

GINGERICH, PD

SMITH, BH

SIMONS, EL

机构：

[1] UNIV MICHIGAN, MUSEUM ANTHROPOL, ANN ARBOR, MI 48109 USA

[2] DUKE UNIV, PRIMATE CTR, DURHAM, NC 27705 USA

[3] DUKE UNIV, DEPT ANAT & ANTHROPOL, DURHAM, NC 27705 USA

来源：

SCIENCE | 1990年 / 249卷 / 4965期

关键词：

D O I：

10.1126/science.249.4965.154

中图分类号：

O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];

学科分类号：

07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;

摘要：

New specimens of middle Eocene Basilosaurus isis from Egypt include the first functional pelvic limb and foot bones known in Cetacea. These are important in corroborating the intermediate evolutionary position of archaeocetes between generalized Paleocene land mammals that used hind limbs in locomotion and Oligocene-to-Recent whales that lack functional pelvic limbs. The foot is paraxonic, consistent with derivation from mesonychid Condylarthra. Hind limbs of Basilosaurus are interpreted as copulatory guides.

引用

页码：154 / 157

页数：4