| schema:description 2 | "Morawanocetus yabukii is a small, toothed baleen whale. The specific name yabukii is derived from the Yabuki brothers, who discovered the fossils. The estimated body length of the fossilized whale is about three meters, and a skull, cervical vertebrae, thoracic vertebrae, forelimbs, and other parts have been preserved at this museum. (The picture shows a part of a skull replica.) The species lived about 25 million years ago, and it belongs to the family Aetiocetidae, just like Aetiocetus polydentatus. Its jagged teeth, each resembling an open palm, like the teeth of ancient whales (Archaeoceti), and its skull characteristics have caused some scientists to point out the possibility that Morawanocetus yabukii was a filter feeder just like extant baleen whales. Also discovered in Ashoro have been fossils of a large (six- to eight-meter-long) toothed baleen whale from the family Aetiocetidae which is closely related to Morawanocetus. This size is large for toothed baleen whales in those days, which indicates a great diversity of toothed baleen whales....(more)" |
