| “ | An Ambulocetus, a bizarre beast. He is a predator. | „ |
| — Allen Johnson, about Ambulocetus in New Dawn | ||
Ambulocetus (name meaning "Walking Whale") is a genus of primitive amphibious cetacean that originated during the Early Eocene epoch in what is now Europe. Measuring 3 meters long and weighing 250 kg, this bizarre semi-aquatic mammal is among the earliest ancestors of modern cetaceans to exist and is among the best-studied Eocene cetaceans.
In the Series 3 premiere "New Dawn," a male Ambulocetus named Nate was brought to the park from Early Eocene Germany, 49 million years ago after nearly getting killed by volcanic gas. He resides in the Whale Watching Enclosure with a female Ambulocetus named Mal.
Facts[]
Era & Discovery[]
Among the apex predators of its time, Ambulocetus lived in various aquatic environments in Europe during the Early Eocene epoch. It shared its environment with a variety of other Eocene animals such as Gastornis, Leptictidium, Godinotia, and common prey item Propalaeotherium. While the first fossils of Ambulocetus were unearthed in 1992, the animal itself wasn't properly named until two years later in 1994.
Physical Attributes[]
Even though looking at first like some form of mammalian crocodile, Ambulocetus is a primitive member of the cetacean family, in which whales and dolphins belong to. It measures 3 meters (10 feet) long and weighs 250 kilograms (550 pounds). Although their ancestors hunted on land, Ambulotcetus evolved to be far more at home in the water. When they swim in the water, their bodies move up and down like an otter as well as modern cetaceans as opposed to the traditional side to side motion seen in most aquatic creatures, like fish or reptile.
Although they have no ears, Ambulocetus would listen for approaching prey by putting their jaws to the ground on dry land to detect vibrations which is the same mechanism that allowed this semi-aquatic predator to hear underwater. They had webbed feet that helps them move through the water, like modern otters.
Ambulocetus skeleton
Behavior & Traits[]
Living in habitats from ponds to even coastal shorelines, Ambulocetus is a solitary ambush hunter and often gets together during the mating season. When hunting, they wait for unsuspecting prey to come closer to a water's edge and, at the right time, strikes; it grabs them with their powerful jaws. Their vice-like jaws held their struggling prey until they drowned in the water.
Prehistoric Earth: A Natural History[]
Season 3[]
Journal Entry[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The sound effects of the Ambulocetus are that of crocodilian, horse, and walrus sounds