Babiacetus

Babiacetus was named by in an abstract based on the specimen's type (GSI 19647, left and right dentaries with cheek teeth). Gingerich and colleagues found a skull (GSP-UM 3005, much of a skull and lower jaws) in the Drazinda Formation (, paleocoordinates ) in the Sulaiman Range of Punjab, Pakistan. described both the original find and their new specimen. described B. mishrai from the specimen (RUSB 2512, a partial skull) == Description ==

Babiacetus is one of the larger protocetids weighing about . Its hydrodynamic skull and pointed, anteroposteriorly (front-back) oriented incisors are typical of archaeocetes. A densely ossified auditory bulla and large mandibular canal indicate it was adapted for hearing in water. Babiacetus differs from pakicetids and ambulocetids (more primitive families) by the large mandibular foramen and a medially concave ascending ramus; distinct from remingtonocetids and basilosaurids (more derived families) by the single-cusped trigonid and talonid on the lower molars. The anterior premolars are large. The mandible is longer in B. indicus than in B. mishrai, and P1 is single-rooted in the former but double-rooted in the latter. The diastemata between P1 and P4 in B. indicus is absent in B. mishrai. B. indicus has larger cheek teeth and a larger M3. == Palaeobiology ==

The teeth of Babiacetus exhibit substantial spalling, suggesting that this cetacean fed on hard-bodied prey of relatively large size. To date, only cranial remains have been found, hence nothing is known of Babicetus' mode of locomotion or degree of aquatic adaptation. ==Notes==