Rodhocetus (from Rodho, the geological anticline at the type locality, and cetus, Latin for whale) [1] is an extinct genus of protocetid early whale known from the Lutetian of Pakistan. [2]

Anatomy: Rodhocetus, along with most other early whales, would not have resembled any modern mammals. The skull of Rodhocetus is very long and narrow, with differently shaped canines, premolars, and molars (heterodont condition).

Rodhocetus was a genus of prehistoric whales which lived approximately 47 million years ago during the Early Eocene Period. It was originally discovered in the 1990s and was named by Philip Gingerich in 1994. Its name means “Rodho whale.”

At left, the ankle bones of two middle Eocene protocetid archaeocetes, Rodhocetus balochistanensis (left) and Artiocetus clavis (right) from Pakistan, compared to those of the pronghorn Antilocapra americana (center).

Rodhocetus’ fossilized remains were found during a 1992 excavation in northern Pakistan. The excavation site is now a rocky, mountainous desert, but 50 million years ago, it was located beneath the southern edge of an immense, ancient ocean called the Tethys Sea.

Aug 12, 2018 · Get an in-depth profile of Rodhocetus, including this prehistoric whale's characteristics, behavior and habitat.

Sep 19, 2001 · The fossils, which they gave species names of Artiocetus clavis and Rodhocetus balochistanensis, are the first of cetaceans ever discovered with intact ankle bones.

Apr 21, 2016 · Although not as well known as Pakicetus and Ambulocetus,‭ ‬Rodhocetus is nonetheless important to the study of how whales evolved from land animals.‭ ‬Rodhocetus is but one of a slowly but steadily growing number of transitional fossil genera,‭ ‬but‭ ‬in‭ ‬Rodhocetus‭ ‬ the change can actually be seen across the species ...

Sep 24, 2001 · RODHOCETUS BALOCHISTANENSIS, a newly discovered species of ancient whale, is reconstructed here. Discovered in 47-million-year-old deposits in Pakistan, this beast had well-developed limbs that...

Sep 21, 2001 · 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.