Qaisracetus
Qaisracetus is an extinct protocetid early whale known from the Eocene (Lutetian, ) of Baluchistan, Pakistan (, paleocoordinates ). Etymology. The genus is named after the Qaisrani Baloch tribe which assisted Gingerich and his team during their field work. "Qaisra" is also etymologically close to the royal title used in Persian and many Indo-European languages (e.g. Kaiser, Czar, Caesar). The species is named for Muhammad Arif, former paleontologist at the Geological Survey of Pakistan who contributed significantly to archaeocete paleontology in Pakistan. Description. "Qaisracetus" is known from a dozen specimens, all found in or near the type locality. Among them are  several well-preserved elements, including a well-preserved skull, partial skulls and braincases, several vertebrae including an almost complete sacrum, a left innominate, ribs, and partial limb elements. "Qaisracetus" is smaller than "Pappocetus" and "Babiacetus" but larger than "Indocetus". "Qaisracetus arifi" is almost as complete as "Rodhocetus kasranii", the most complete articulated skeleton of a protocetid, and they were similar in size: the latter had an estimated body weight of , compared to for the former. "Qaisracetus" has a generalized protocetid skull with the external nares located relatively anteriorly (above C) and a relatively broad frontal shield. The rostrum is more  narrow in "Qaisracetus" than in "Takracetus". The four sacral vertebrae are only partially fused: the first two are solidly fused, the third is locked in place by rib-like processes (a pleurapophyseal synchondrosis), while the fourth has a caudal (tail-like) morphology including two ventral chevron processes. The fusion between S1 and S2 distinguished "Qaisracetus" from other protocetids such as "Protocetus", "Rodhocetus", "Gaviacetus", "Natchitochia", and "Georgiacetus". "Qaisracetus"<nowiki>'</nowiki> vertebrae are not dense and thick like in "Eocetus". In contrast to "Qaisracetus", "Rodhocetus" has a sacrum where non of the vertebrae have fused centra, which is derived to be a protocetid , but "Rodhocetus" is primitive in retaining pleurapophyseal connections between all sacral vertebrae. The sacral morphology of "Rodhocetus" and "Qaisracetus" indicate protocetids represent a wide range of specializations, although which is ancestral to later whales is unclear.