Janjucetus is an extinct genus of cetacean, and a basal baleen whale (Mysticeti), from the Late Oligocene around 25 million years ago (mya) off south-east Australia, containing one species J. hunderi.

Anatomy: Janjucetus is remarkable due to its very short and triangular snout, heterodont dentition (having teeth of different types, including incisor-like teeth and others more like molars), large eye sockets, and relatively small size.

A small, new genus and species of toothed whale was recently named, Janjucetus hunderi, from the Late Oligocene (ca. 24-27 Ma) of Australia (Fitzgerald, 2006). Detailed analyses by Fitzgerald indicate that Janjucetus represents one early representative of Mysticeti.

Jun 22, 2016 · Janjucetus is named after the town of Jan Juc which is situated upon the coast of the Australian state of Victoria.‭ ‬The type species name of J.‭ ‬hunderi is in honour of Staumn Hunder who discovered the holotype specimen in rocks while surfing.

Aug 15, 2006 · The whale in question is called Janjucetus hunderi, named after the Australian town of Jan Juc where it was found, and a Mr. S. Hunder who found its fossils. Among its 25-million year old remains...

Janjucetus was a small whale that lived around 25 million years ago off the Victorian coast. It hunted large fish for food, gripping them between its sharp teeth with the help of powerful jaw muscles.

Aug 16, 2006 · But 25 million years ago, a very different baleen specimen was terrorising the seas off Australia, tearing at its prey with large teeth. The discovery of Janjucetus hunderi provides a new insight...

Mammalodontidae is a family of extinct whales known from the Oligocene of Australia [1] and New Zealand. [2] There are currently two genera in this family: Janjucetus and Mammalodon. After a new cladistic analysis by Fitzgerald (2010), Janjucetus was transferred into Mammalodontidae, thereby making Janjucetidae a junior synonym of Mammalodontidae.

Janjucetus bridges the gap in jaw morphology between archaeocetes and more advanced baleen whales, showing that the earliest mysticetes lacked mandibular kinesis . A non-sutured and kinetic mandibular symphysis has until now been considered a key synapomorphy of Mysticeti [5,7].

Janjucetus ("jan-ju-see-tus", from the Jan Juc township near the type locality, and cetus, Latin for whale) is an extinct genus of whale, and a basal form of the Mysticeti, a clade which includes the extant baleen whales.