Gingerich P D, Zalmout I S, Khan I H, Malkani M S
Department of Geological Sciences and Museum of Paleontology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079, USA.
Science. 2001 Sep 21;293(5538):2239-42. doi: 10.1126/science.1063902. Epub 2001 Sep 19.
Partial skeletons of two new fossil whales, Artiocetus clavis and Rodhocetus balochistanensis, are among the oldest known protocetid archaeocetes. These came from early Lutetian age (47 million years ago) strata in eastern Balochistan Province, Pakistan. Both have an astragalus and cuboid in the ankle with characteristics diagnostic of artiodactyls; R. balochistanensis has virtually complete fore- and hind limbs. The new skeletons are important in augmenting the diversity of early Protocetidae, clarifying that Cetacea evolved from early Artiodactyla rather than Mesonychia and showing how early protocetids swam.
两种新的化石鲸——阿氏鲸（Artiocetus clavis）和俾路支罗德侯鲸（Rodhocetus balochistanensis）的部分骨骼，是已知最古老的原鲸科古代鲸类。它们来自巴基斯坦俾路支省东部的路特提阶早期（4700万年前）地层。两者的脚踝处都有距骨和骰骨，具有偶蹄目的诊断特征；俾路支罗德侯鲸的前肢和后肢几乎完整。这些新骨骼对于增加早期原鲸科的多样性、明确鲸目是从早期偶蹄目而非中爪兽目进化而来，以及展示早期原鲸科动物的游泳方式具有重要意义。
