Editing Basilosaurus (section)

=== Etymology ===
[[File:Basilosaurus by Knight.jpg|thumb|Outdated restoration of ''Basilosaurus'' by [[Charles R. Knight]] from 1907 showing a serpent-like body-plan]]
The two species of ''Basilosaurus'' are ''B. cetoides'', whose remains were discovered in the United States, and ''B. isis'', which was discovered in Egypt. ''B. cetoides'' is the [[type species]] for the genus.<ref name=zalmout2000>{{Cite journal| last1 = Zalmout | first1 = I. S.| last2 = Mustafa | first2 = H. A.| last3 = Gingerich | first3 = P. D.| title = Priabonian ''Basilosaurus isis'' (Cetacea) from the Wadi Esh-Shallala Formation: first marine mammal from the Eocene of Jordan| year = 2000 | journal = Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology | volume = 20 | issue = 1 | pages = 201–204| url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232663337| oclc = 4908948040 | doi=10.1671/0272-4634(2000)020[0201:pbicft]2.0.co;2| s2cid = 130179065}}</ref><ref name="bbc">{{cite web | title = Basilosaurus | publisher = BBC Nature | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/seamonsters/factfiles/basilosaurus.shtml | access-date = 24 August 2013 | archive-date = 21 September 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100921083651/http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/seamonsters/factfiles/basilosaurus.shtml | url-status = live }}</ref> The [[holotype]] of ''B. cetoides'' was found in [[Ouachita Parish]], [[Louisiana]].{{sfn|Harlan|1834}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Bry Plantation (Eocene of the United States) |url=https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicCollectionSearch?collection_no=32907 |website=PBDB}}</ref> Vertebrae were sent to the [[American Philosophical Society]] by a Judge Henry Bry of [[Ouachita Parish, Louisiana]] and Judge John Creagh of [[Clarke County, Alabama|Clarke County]], [[Alabama]]. Both fossils ended up in the hands of the anatomist [[Richard Harlan]], who requested more examples from Creagh.<ref name=Switek>{{cite web| last = Switek | first = Brian| title = The Legacy of the ''Basilosaurus'' | publisher = ScienceBlogs| url = http://scienceblogs.com/laelaps/2008/09/21/the-legacy-of-the-basilosaurus/| date = 21 September 2008 | access-date = 14 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-did-whales-evolve-73276956/?all |title=How Did Whales Evolve? |author=Brian Switek |work=[[Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian]] |date=December 2010 }}</ref> The first bones were unearthed when rain caused a hillside full of sea shells to slide. The bones were lying in a curved line "measuring upwards of four hundred feet [122 meters] in length, with intervals which were vacant." Many of these bones were used as [[andiron]]s and destroyed; Bry saved the bones he could find, but was convinced more bones were still to be found on the location. Bry speculated that the bones must have belonged to a "sea monster" and supplied "a piece having the appearance of a tooth" to help determine which kind.<ref>{{Harvnb|Harlan|1834|p=400}}</ref>

Harlan identified the tooth as a [[Pinna (genus)|wedge-shaped shell]] and instead focused on "a vertebra of enormous dimensions" which he assumed belonged to the order "[[Marine reptile|Enalio-Sauri]] of [[William Conybeare (geologist)|Conybeare]]", "found only in the sub-cretaceous series."<ref>{{Harvnb|Harlan|1834|p=401}}</ref> He noted that some parts of the vertebra were similar to those of ''[[Plesiosaurus]]'' and skull was similar to ''[[Mosasaurus]]'', but that they were completely different in proportions. Comparing his vertebra to those of large dinosaurs such as ''[[Megalosaurus]]'' and ''[[Iguanodon]]'', Harlan concluded that his specimen was considerably larger—he estimated the animal to have been no less than {{Convert|80|–|100|ft|m|abbr=on}} long—and therefore suggested the name ''Basilosaurus'', meaning "king lizard".<ref>{{Harvnb|Harlan|1834|pp=402–403}}</ref>

Harlan brought his assembled specimens (including fragments of jaw and teeth, humerus, and rib fragments) to the UK where he presented them to anatomist [[Richard Owen]]. Owen concluded that the molar teeth were two-rooted, a dental morphology unknown in fishes and reptiles, and more complex and varied than in any known reptile, and therefore that the specimen must be a mammal. Owen correctly associated the teeth with cetaceans, but he thought it was an herbivorous animal, similar to [[sirenia]]ns.<ref>{{Harvnb|Owen|1839|pp=72–73}}</ref> Consequently, Owen proposed renaming the find ''Zeuglodon cetoides'' ("whale-like [[yoke]] teeth" in reference to the double-rooted teeth) and Harlan agreed.<ref name="Owen-1939-p75">{{Harvnb|Owen|1839|p=75}}</ref>