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Rodhocetus
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===''R. kasrani''=== The [[holotype]] of ''R. kasrani'', [[Geological Survey of Pakistan|GSP]]-[[University of Michigan|UM]] 3012 found in 1992, was described by {{Harvnb|Gingerich|Raza|Arif|Anwar|1994}}: a cranium with two dentaries, most of the vertebral column as far as the anterior tail (C2βC7; T1β13; L1β6, S1β4, Ca1β4), most ribs, parts of the sternum, both hip bones, and a left femur. Gingerich et al. 1994 referred a specimen collected in 1981, GSP-UM 1852 two dentaries with teeth, to ''R. kasrani''.<ref name="Gingetal-1994-844" /> The body mass of the holotype has been estimated between {{cvt|340|and|590|kg|lbs}} based on different techniques.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Waugh|first1=D.A.|last2=Thewissen|first2=J.G.M.|title=The pattern of brain-size change in the early evolution of cetaceans|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=16|issue=9|at=e0257803|year=2021|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0257803|doi-access=free|pmid=34582492 |pmc=8478358|bibcode=2021PLoSO..1657803W }}</ref> [[Synapomorphy|Derived]] traits in ''R. kasrani'', relative to older archaeocetes such as ''Pakicetus'', include high-crowned cheek teeth, larger auditory bullae, larger mandibular foramen, and mandibular canals. The higher neural spines and shorter femur (60β70%) distinguish ''Rodhocetus'' from the more primitive ''Ambulocetus''. The convex posterior surface of the exoccipital, shorter cervical vertebrae, and unfused sacral vertebrae distinguishes ''R. kasrani'' from ''Indocetus''. In contrast to later archaeocetes such as ''Protocetus'' and later cetaceans, ''Rodhocetus'' [[Primitive (phylogenetics)|retains]] external nares above upper canines, high neural spines on anterior thoracic vertebrae, and four sacral vertebrae with sacroiliac joints similar to those in land-mammals (suggesting a hip joint that could support the body weight.)<ref name="Gingetal-1994-846">{{Harvnb|Gingerich|Raza|Arif|Anwar|1994|pp=846, 847}}</ref> Several cranial features identifies ''R. kasrani'' as an archaeocete: both the premaxillae and the dentaries are elongated, the frontal shield is wide, and the nuchal crest is high. The [[auditory bulla]]e are large and dense but, there are no associated [[pterygoid fossa]]e or air sinuses. The [[Mandibular foramen|mandibular foramina]] are large with a pan bone {{Convert|90|mm|abbr=on}} long and {{Convert|65|mm|abbr=on}} high.<ref name="Gingetal-1994-846" /> The specific name ''kasrani'' comes from [[Qaisrani]], the Baloch tribe inhabiting the type locality.<ref name="Gingetal-1994-844" /> The protocetid ''[[Qaisracetus]]'' is also named after them.
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