Phiomicetus anubis
- 演化之聲
- Mar 19
- 2 min read
Age
Paleogene（Eocene）
42 Ma
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Protocetidae
Genus: Phiomicetus
Species: Phiomicetus anubis
Morphological description
Phiomicetus anubis measured approximately 3 meters in length and weighed around 600 kilograms. It was a semi-aquatic whale, similar to other protocetids. The neck was relatively short, and the limbs were robust, indicating the ability to support its body on land. The thoracic vertebrae bore tall neural spines, a feature associated with weight-bearing in terrestrial mammals, further supporting its capacity for locomotion on land.
The temporal fossae were extremely large, occupying much of the lateral surface of the skull. This suggests well-developed temporalis muscles and a correspondingly powerful bite force.
Etymology
Phiomicetus: derived from the Fayum Basin (Phiom), where the fossil was discovered, combined with the Latin cetus ('whale')
anubis: named after Anubis, the ancient Egyptian god of death, often depicted with a jackal head, reflecting the canid-like appearance of protocetid skulls
Biological description
Fossils of Phiomicetus anubis were discovered in Egypt, representing one of the most basal protocetids known outside the Indian subcontinent, particularly beyond regions such as India and Pakistan.
Its strong bite force, together with patterns of tooth wear, indicates a broad diet that likely included sea turtles, large fish, and even other whales. It may also have consumed hard-shelled invertebrates such as nautiloids.
Because some of its prey would have been too large to swallow whole, and given its retained ability to move on land, Phiomicetus anubis may have subdued prey using its powerful jaws, followed by behaviors such as twisting or tearing—possibly even dragging prey onto land.
Bite marks found on its fossil ribs indicate post-mortem scavenging, likely by small sharks. These sharks were probably incapable of attacking a living individual of this size and instead fed opportunistically on its carcass.
（Author: Bai Leng）
Reference
Gohar, A. S., Antar, M. S., Boessenecker, R. W., Sabry, D. A., El-Sayed, S., Seiffert, E. R., Zalmout, I. S., Sallam, H. M. (2021). A new protocetid whale offers clues to biogeography and feeding ecology in early cetacean evolution. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
29.18, 30.5
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