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Himalayacetus

Himalayacetus
Temporal range: Early Eocene, 53.5 Ma
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Ambulocetidae
Genus: Himalayacetus
Bajpai & Gingerich, 1998
Species: H. subathuensis
Binomial name
Himalayacetus subathuensis
Bajpai & Gingerich, 1998

Himalayacetus is an extinct genus of carnivorous aquatic mammal of the family Ambulocetidae. The holotype was found in Himachal Pradesh, India, (31°00′N 77°00′E / 31.0°N 77.0°E / 31.0; 77.0: paleocoordinates 3°30′N 69°42′E / 3.5°N 69.7°E / 3.5; 69.7) in what was the remnants of the ancient Tethys Ocean during the Early Eocene. This makes Himalayacetus the oldest archaeocete known, extending the fossil record of whales some 3.5 million years.

Himalayacetus lived in the ancient coastline of the ancient Tethys Ocean before the Indian Plate had collided with the Cimmerian coast. Just like Gandakasia, Himalayacetus is only known from a single jaw fragment, making comparisons to other Ambulocetids difficult.


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