Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 3, 2026

Chonecetus

Chonecetus is an extinct genus of primitive baleen whale of the family Aetiocetidae that lived in the Oligocene period. Its fossils have been found in Canada, in the northeast Pacific. It was first named by L.S. Russell in 1968, and contains one species, C. sookensis.

Last revised
Jul 3, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
243 w
Citations
6
Source
Chonecetus
Temporal range: Oligocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Placentalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Aetiocetidae
Genus: Chonecetus
Russell (1968)
Type species
Chonecetus sookensis
Species
  • C. sookensis

Chonecetus is an extinct genus of primitive baleen whale of the family Aetiocetidae1 that lived in the Oligocene period.2 Its fossils have been found in Canada,3 in the northeast Pacific.4 It was first named by L.S. Russell in 1968, and contains one species, C. sookensis.

Like Aetiocetus, Chonecetus possessed both multicusped teeth and the nutrient foramina required for baleen.5 Chonecetus closely resembled a modern Mysticeti, with an elongate, streamlined body supporting a pair of paddle-shaped forelimbs, and a horizontal tail fluke strengthened by fibrous cartilage.1

References

References

  1. "Cetacea, Indeterminate. Distribution of Animal Family Through Time". www.courtenaymuseum.ca. Archived from the original on October 23, 2007. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  2. Whales, Whaling, and Ocean Ecosystems; page 70. By James A. Estes, published 2007; University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-24884-8 Retrieved on July 1, 2020
  3. "Data on the geographic and temporal distribution of cetacean genera". Paleo-Electronica.org. February 2007. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  4. "The Evolution of Cetaceans - Chapter Nine". The Biology and Conservation of Marine Mammals; Aldemaro Romero. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  5. Marine Mammals: Evolutionary Biology; page 62. By Annalisa Berta, James L. Sumich, and Kit M. Kovacs, published 2005; Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-088552-2 Retrieved on July 1, 2008.

Suggested further reading

  • Marine Mammal Biology: An Evolutionary Approach By A. Rus Hoelzel. Published 2002 Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 0-632-05232-5
External links