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literature
Tethys Tales chapter 2: Hunger Pangs
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Literature Text
Period: Middle Paleogene (Late Eocene, Middle Priabonian)
Date: 36,500,000 BC
Location: Faiyum Coast
Another difference from most future whales is obvious only when Basilosaurus is feeding. The fresh meat it craves is still quite a long way away, so for now it must catch an appetizer of smaller sea Creatures. The storm has passed and ethereal Creatures shimmer in the sunlit water ahead. The Basilosaurus accelerates into the shoal of Squid. As it does so it opens its mouth, revealing a formidable array of teeth. Jerking its head from side to side, it impales its prey, sometimes two Squid at a time, on the cone-like teeth at the front of its jaws. Further back inside the mouth, the food is shredded by more massive cusped molar teeth. So different groups of teeth have different functions, in contrast to those of most future whales.
The edge taken off its hunger, the Basilosaurus continues towards tis destination – a gathering of Dorudon, another species Basilosaurid Archaeocete, about 16 feet long. It has travelled to these killing fields at the same time of year, the birthing season of its prey, for over a decade. It has a cruising speed of about 6 miles an hour; the muscles at the base of its tail are the power-pack that keeps it moving. When the upper muscles contract they bring the tail up, providing the stroke that derives the Basilosaurus forward; the lower muscles are half the weight and much less powerful, merely bringing the tail back down in the recovery stroke.
The Basilosaurus is in about 20 feet of water, close to a slope of silt rising up to a mangrove swamp. It senses vibrations well underwater (since it has not ears) and there is a kerfuffle just ahead. It dives to investigate, skimming along the muddy bottom. Above it are two shapes the size of Rhinos, vigorous strokes of their front legs propelling them through the water. For the Basilosaurus this is a chance of a more substantial meal then Squid. It accelerates towards the prey Animals, but they are nearly at the mangrove edge in water too shallow for the hunter to pursue them. Unaware of their narrow escape, one of them returns just in time to see a tail fluke disappear beneath the water as the Basilosaurus dives down to continue its voyage.
The strange Creatures are a mated pair of Arsinoitherium, standing around 5 feet and 9 inches tall at the shoulders and 9 feet 10 inches in length. They are herbivorous Mammals that are in fact Afrotheres, making them distantly related to Proboscideans. Semiaquatic, the male slightly larger than the female, they move clumsily on land, their bandy, columnar legs giving them a waddling gait. Each has a pair of enormous horns above the nose and a second pair of tiny knob-like horns over the eyes; his are longer and flare out to the side, hers are daintier and upright. They push through the mangroves to some fruiting trees and lasso any fruits within reach with their longish and prehensile upper lips.
To Be Continued
Date: 36,500,000 BC
Location: Faiyum Coast
Another difference from most future whales is obvious only when Basilosaurus is feeding. The fresh meat it craves is still quite a long way away, so for now it must catch an appetizer of smaller sea Creatures. The storm has passed and ethereal Creatures shimmer in the sunlit water ahead. The Basilosaurus accelerates into the shoal of Squid. As it does so it opens its mouth, revealing a formidable array of teeth. Jerking its head from side to side, it impales its prey, sometimes two Squid at a time, on the cone-like teeth at the front of its jaws. Further back inside the mouth, the food is shredded by more massive cusped molar teeth. So different groups of teeth have different functions, in contrast to those of most future whales.
The edge taken off its hunger, the Basilosaurus continues towards tis destination – a gathering of Dorudon, another species Basilosaurid Archaeocete, about 16 feet long. It has travelled to these killing fields at the same time of year, the birthing season of its prey, for over a decade. It has a cruising speed of about 6 miles an hour; the muscles at the base of its tail are the power-pack that keeps it moving. When the upper muscles contract they bring the tail up, providing the stroke that derives the Basilosaurus forward; the lower muscles are half the weight and much less powerful, merely bringing the tail back down in the recovery stroke.
The Basilosaurus is in about 20 feet of water, close to a slope of silt rising up to a mangrove swamp. It senses vibrations well underwater (since it has not ears) and there is a kerfuffle just ahead. It dives to investigate, skimming along the muddy bottom. Above it are two shapes the size of Rhinos, vigorous strokes of their front legs propelling them through the water. For the Basilosaurus this is a chance of a more substantial meal then Squid. It accelerates towards the prey Animals, but they are nearly at the mangrove edge in water too shallow for the hunter to pursue them. Unaware of their narrow escape, one of them returns just in time to see a tail fluke disappear beneath the water as the Basilosaurus dives down to continue its voyage.
The strange Creatures are a mated pair of Arsinoitherium, standing around 5 feet and 9 inches tall at the shoulders and 9 feet 10 inches in length. They are herbivorous Mammals that are in fact Afrotheres, making them distantly related to Proboscideans. Semiaquatic, the male slightly larger than the female, they move clumsily on land, their bandy, columnar legs giving them a waddling gait. Each has a pair of enormous horns above the nose and a second pair of tiny knob-like horns over the eyes; his are longer and flare out to the side, hers are daintier and upright. They push through the mangroves to some fruiting trees and lasso any fruits within reach with their longish and prehensile upper lips.
To Be Continued
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