LAND ANCESTORS OF WHALES. “Although early whale fossils had been known at least as early as the 1830s, they were often mistaken for giant marine reptiles, as evidenced by the genus name Basilosaurus (Greek for ‘king lizard’), a long, snake-like whale from the Late Eocene [38–34 million years ago (Mya)].”
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michael_Mcgowen/publication/275671338_A_Whale_of_a_Tale/links/558bce1608ae681f47160178.pdf