Eomysticetus is an extinct genus of baleen whale from the late Oligocene (Chattian) Chandler Bridge Formation of South Carolina.[1]
Eomysticetus is a member of the family Eomysticetidae, which also includes Micromysticetus, Tohoraata, Tokarahia, and Yamatocetus.[2] There are two species of Eomysticetus, E. whitmorei and E. carolinensis, both from the Chandler Bridge Formation of South Carolina.[1]
The skull was around 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in length.[3] Like more evolved baleen whales, its jaws had baleen instead of teeth, meaning that it could filter plankton with its baleen plates.[4][5][6][7] However, primitive baleen whales may have retained enamel coated teeth embedded in the gums, similar to modern sperm whales.[8] Baleen whales, as a group, may be sensitive to low-frequency sounds.[9]
Unlike modern baleen whales, Eomysticetus had a blowhole that was positioned ahead of the eyes, and the characteristics of its vertebrae and flipper bones are akin to those of archaeocetes like Basilosaurus.[4]