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Protocetus

Protocetus atavus ("first whale") is an extinct species of primitive cetacean from Egypt. It lived during the middle Eocene period 45 million years ago. The first discovered protocetid, Protocetus atavus was described by based on a cranium and a number of associated vertebrae and ribs found in middle Lutetian Tethyan marine limestone from the Mokattam Formation at Gebel Mokattam near Cairo, Egypt.

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Article summary

Protocetus atavus ("first whale") is an extinct species of primitive cetacean from Egypt. It lived during the middle Eocene period 45 million years ago. The first discovered protocetid, Protocetus atavus was described by based on a cranium and a number of associated vertebrae and ribs found in middle Lutetian Tethyan marine limestone from the Mokattam Formation at Gebel Mokattam near Cairo, Egypt.

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Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  3. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

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