Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Raoellidae

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Phylum
  
Chordata

Rank
  
Family

Scientific name
  
Raoellidae

Higher classification
  
Even-toed ungulate

Order
  
Even-toed ungulate

Raoellidae

Similar
  
Indohyus, Even‑toed ungulate, Mammal, Pakicetidae, Anthracotheriidae

Raoellidae, previously grouped within Helohyidae, is an extinct family of semiaquatic digitigrade artiodactyls in the clade Whippomorpha. Fossils of raoellids are found in Eocene strata of South and Southeast Asia.

An exceptionally complete skeleton of Indohyus from Kashmir suggests that raoellids are the "missing link" sister group to whales (Cetacea). All other Artiodactyla are relatives of these two groups. δO18 values and osteosclerotic bones indicate that the raccoon-like Indohyus was habitually aquatic, but δC13 values suggest it rarely fed in the water. The authors suggest that this documents an intermediate step in the transition back to water completed by the whales.

Taxonomy

  • Raoella
  • Raoella dograi
  • Haqueina
  • Haqueina haquei
  • Indohyus
  • Indohyus indirae
  • Indohyus major
  • Kunmunella
  • Kunmunella kalakotensis
  • Kunmunella transversa
  • Metkatius
  • Metkatius kashmiriensis
  • Khirtharia
  • Khirtharia aurea
  • Khirtharia dayi
  • Khirtharia inflatus
  • References

    Raoellidae Wikipedia