Earliest Mysticete from the late Eocene of Peru sheds new light on the origin of baleen whales

• Published in: Current Biology
• Main Authors: Lambert, O., Martínez-Cáceres, M., Bianucci, G., Di Celma, C., Salas-Gismondi, R., Steurbaut, E., Urbina, M., de Muizon, C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: Cetacea [whales; dolphins and porpoises]; Mysticeti [baleen whales]; Pisco; Antarc*; Antarctica; baleen whales; toothed whales
• Online Access: http://www.vliz.be/nl/open-marien-archief?module=ref&refid=295663

Although combined molecular and morphological analyses point to a late middle Eocene (38–39 million years ago) origin for the clade Neoceti (Odontoceti, echolocating toothed whales plus Mysticeti, baleen whales, and relatives), the oldest known mysticete fossil dates from the latest Eocene (about 34...