Basilosaurus
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| Basilosaurus Fossil range: Late Eocene |
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 Basilosaurus cetoides
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| Basilosaurus cetoides |
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Basilosaurus ("King Lizard") was a genus of cetacean that lived from 40 to 34 million years ago in the Eocene. Its fossilized remains were first discovered in the southern United States (Louisiana), and were initially believed to be some sort of reptilian sea monster, hence the suffix -"saurus". Fossils from at least two other species of this taxon have been found in Egypt and Pakistan. Basilosaurus averaged about 18 meters (60 feet) in length, and is believed to have been the largest animal to have lived in its time.[1] It displayed an unparalleled degree of elongation compared with modern whales. Their very small vestigial hind limbs have also been a matter of interest for paleontologists. The species is the state fossil of Mississippi and Alabama.
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[edit] Fossil finds
During the early 19th century in Louisiana and Alabama, Basilosaurus cetoides fossils were so common (as well as large) that they were regularly used as furniture. One vertebra was sent in to the American Philosophical Society by a Judge Bry, who was concerned that the unique finds were being destroyed by the locals. The fossils ended up in the hands of the anatomist Dr. Richard Harlan, who proclaimed it to be reptilian (and 45 m [150 ft] long) and gave it the name Basilosaurus, the name meaning “King reptile”. When the British anatomist Sir Richard Owen studied the spine, mandibular fragments, arms, and ribs (recently found) he proclaimed them to be mammalian. Owen proposed renaming the find to Zeuglodon cetoides (“whale-like yoke teeth”), which is now a junior synonym; though the latter is considered by many to be a more fitting name, the first-published name always takes precedent. Zeuglodon name is in reference to the double rooted teeth typical of marine mammals.
In 1845, “Dr.” Albert Koch heard stories of giant bones in Alabama, and went down to cobble together a full skeleton. He eventually created a huge 114 foot skeleton of a “sea serpent”, which he displayed in New York City, and later Europe. It was eventually shown to come from 5 different individuals, some of which were not Basilosaurus. The remains were eventually destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire.
Fossil finds of another species, Basilosaurus isis, have been found in the aptly named Zeuglodon valley in Egypt. The fossils were very well preserved, hind limbs included, and were rather numerous. Paleontologist Phillip Gingerich, who organized several expeditions to the valley, speculated that Egyptian crocodile worship may have been inspired by the huge skeletons that lay there. Fossil remains of another species, Basilosaurus drazindai, have been found in Pakistan. Another fossilized species named Basiloterus husseini was its closest known relative, but was not as large or elongated.
[edit] Biology
The most notable physical feature of Basilosaurus is the great deal of elongation it possessed. It accomplished this through an unparalleled elongation of its vertebrae, and has been described as being the closest a whale ever came to a snake. It is also believed to have had unusual locomotion, compared with all other cetaceans; similarly sized thoracic, lumbar, sacral and caudal vertebrae imply that Basilosaurus moved in an anguilliform (eel-like) fashion, only vertically. Even more oddly, paleontologist Philip Gingerich theorized that it may also have moved in a horizontal anguilliform fashion to some degree, something completely unknown in modern cetaceans. The skeletal anatomy of the tail suggests that a small fluke was probably present, which would have only aided vertical motion. Most reconstructions show a small, speculative dorsal fin similar to a rorqual whale’s, but other reconstructions show a dorsal ridge.
The most famous part of the whale's anatomy are the 0.6 meter (2 feet) hind limbs, which clearly cannot aid locomotion on a 15-25 meter (50-85 foot) animal. Analysis has shown that the reduced limbs could only snap between two positions. They appear similar to the reduced legs used as copulatory guides on boas, and might have been used in the same manner.
The vertebrae of the whale appear to have been hollow, and it is likely that they were fluid filled as well. This would imply that Basilosaurus typically only functioned in two dimensions at the sea's surface, compared with the three dimensional habit of most other cetaceans. Judging from the relatively weak axial musculature and the thick bones in the limbs, Basilosaurus is not believed to have been capable of sustained swimming or deep diving. It is also believed that the primitive whale were incapable of terrestrial locomotion.
The head of Basilosaurus did not have room for a melon organ like modern day toothed whales, and the brain was smaller in comparison as well. It is believed that they did not have the social capabilities of modern whales, possibly as a result of that.
At one point of time it was believed that Basilosaurus had some sort of armor plating, but it was likely the misidentification of turtle shells. Some cryptozoologists believe that either Basilosaurus or an evolved relative is currently alive and responsible for sea serpent sightings, but its fossil record appears to end 37 million years ago, so there is no evidence to support that claim.
[edit] In popular culture
Basilosaurus was featured in the second episode of BBC's Walking with Beasts. It featured the breeding cycle of Basilosaurus. First, the featured Basilosaurus mated, after which food ran out in her territory, and she journeyed into a saltwater lagoon. In one instance, she was unsuccessful in hunting a Moeritherium. In the end, the Basilosaurus dines on baby Dorudons and is shown with her offspring one year later. In a follow up to Walking with Beasts called Sea Monsters, the Basilosaurus is the top hazard in the episode “Fourth Most Dangerous Sea of All Time.” It was shown as being more aggressive and territorial than in Beasts.
Herman Melville mentions Basilosaurus by name in chapter 104 of Moby-Dick, which is titled “The Fossil Whale.”
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Walking with Prehistoric Beasts's profile of Basilosaurus
- Paleos Vertebrates
- Bejder, Lars and Hall, Brian K. Limbs in whales and limblessness in other vertebrates: mechanisms of evolutionary and developmental transformation and loss. Evolution and Development, 2002.
- Zeuglodons in Cryptozoology
[edit] Sources
- Perrin, William and Wursigm Bernd, and Thweissen, J.G.M. Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Academic Press, 2002.
- Thewissen, J. G. M. (editor). The Emergence of Whales: Evolutionary Patterns in the Origin of Cetacean. Plenum Press, New York and London, 1998. ISBN 0-306-45853-5
- Zimmer, Carl. At the Water's Edge. Free Press, 1998.
- Haines, Tim & Chambers, Paul. (2006)The Complete Guide to Prehistoric Life. Canada: Firefly Books Ltd.
- Barry Cox, Colin Harrison, R.J.G. Savage, and Brian Gardiner. (1999): The Simon & Schuster Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Creatures: A Visual Who's Who of Prehistoric Life. Simon & Schuster.
