Whale (Cetacean) Vertebra. From North Carolina, U.S.A. These are found along with Megalodon and Mako teeth in the same locations and make a good companion fossil. In life the Megalodon would have preyed on Whales, and this is evidence in the rib fossils that are found with shark tooth bite marks. Artwork by Nobu Tamura.
Whales are a widely distributed and diverse group of fully aquatic placentalmarine mammals. They are an informal grouping within the infra-order Cetacea, usually excluding dolphins and porpoises. Whales, dolphins and porpoises belong to the order Cetartiodactyla with even-toed ungulates and their closest living relatives are the hippopotamuses, having diverged about 40 million years ago. The two parvorders of whales, baleen whales (Mysticeti) and toothed whales (Odontoceti), are thought to have split apart around 34 million years ago.
Whale Teeth & Ear bone fossils from South Carolina Miocene in age (around 15 Million years old). Whales use these to hear underwater sounds, and some say they can hear for thousands and thousands of miles. Sound travels at around 4 times faster in water than it does on land. There are found in South Carolina, along with Megalodon and Mako sharks, as well as other marine species.
Kogiopsis is a genus of prehistoric, Middle Miocene pygmy sperm whales from the family Kogiidae. Referred to as Kogiopsis floridana in some texts.
Whale Vertebra fossils from North Carolina & North Sea Fossil Whale vertebra found by beach combing, and diving in the ocean. North Carolina fossils are Miocene in age (around 15 Million years old). The North Sea ones are somewhat younger, being from the Miocene-Pliocene period. Perfect display fossil for the collector. These are amazingly unique looking, and a fantastic talking point.
Dolphin & Seal fossils from USA & NORTH SEA Various Dolphin fossils from North Carolina, USA (Miocene age) and the North Sea (Pleistocene age). Species are Delphinus sp (USA). The North Sea species are likely from Phocoena, Tursiops and Delphinapterus sp (North Sea).
Seal fossils are likely to be Pagophilus and Halichoerus sp. These are from the North Sea. All the fossils from there are found by Fishermen as they trawl across the area known as Doggerland/Brown Bank, between the coast of Holland and Eastern UK.
Manatee Teeth from Florida, USA Manatee molar teeth. Trichechus manatus. From North Florida, USA. These are Pleistocene age. American/West Indian Manatee. Despite being called Sea-Cows, they are actually relatives to Elephants. Their slow, cumbersome antics are where they were referred to as "sea-cows".
Pappocetus Lugardi, Eocene Whale Western Sahara, Morocco Middle - Late Eocene, Bartonian stage - 40 million Years, Gueran, Western Sahara, South Morocco, Aridal Formation, Boujdour Basin, Middle-Late Eocene Outcrops
Pappocetus is a protocetid and a large amphibious aquatic carnivore. Pappocetus is also an ancestor of Basilosaurus. Rare specimen from an early evolutionary stage of the modern whale. In the phosphate basins of the Moroccan Western Sahara, the fossil record of these enormous vertebrates is very well represented, of this type of cetaceans that speak of an evolutionary transition from land to sea. The protocetids had large fore-limbs and hindlimbs that could support the body on land, and they were most likely amphibious and capable of living on land and in the sea.