Chonecetus

Chonecetus is an extinct genus of primitive baleen whale of the family Aetiocetidae^[1] 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.

Chonecetus Temporal range: Oligocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Suborder:	Whippomorpha
Infraorder:	Cetacea
Family:	†Aetiocetidae
Genus:	†Chonecetus Russell (1968)
Type species
†Chonecetus sookensis
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]

Sister Taxa

• Aetiocetus
• Ashorocetus
• Fucaia
• Morawanocetus
• Willungacetus