| Basilosaurus cetoides is the State Fossil of the US | | | | reptile". Later however, the British anatomist and |
| states of Alabama and Mississippi. It is a type of | | | | paleontologist, Sir Richard Owen, also studied the |
| extinct cetacean (the group containing whales, | | | | creature, and determined the creature was in fact |
| dolphins and porpoises) that lived during the Eocene | | | | mammalian. Owen did suggest changing the name (to |
| epoch, between about 40 million years ago and 34 | | | | "Zeuglodon cetoides") but the first chosen name, |
| million years ago. | | | | "Basilosaurus" continued to take priority. |
| The story of the discovery of Basilosaurus is an | | | | Today we know that Basilosaurus was definitely |
| interesting one. It first became known to science | | | | mammalian, and grew up to 60 feet (18 meters) in |
| during the early 19th century - the story goes that | | | | length. It had greatly elongated vertebrae and a |
| Basilosaurus cetoides fossils were so common that | | | | serpent-like body. Unlike modern whales, Basilosaurus |
| they were being used by settlers in Alabama and | | | | had hind limbs (although these were very small, and |
| Louisana to make furniture. There were however | | | | perhaps only used as a guide during mating), but did |
| some people concerned that these unique fossils | | | | not have a melon organ (used by modern whales for |
| were being lost without being study, and as a result, | | | | echo-location). Many scientists also believe that |
| some fossils were sent to the American Philosophical | | | | Basilosaurus would have been incapable of prolonged |
| Society. These fossils were studied by Dr Richard | | | | swimming or deep diving, and thus would have |
| Harlan who said the creature was reptilian, and name | | | | hunted on or near the surface. |
| the animal "Basilosaurus", meaning "king lizard" or "king | | | | |