4 pakicetids enter the LRT starting with a new one: Phiomicetus (Gohar et al. 2021)

From the abstract continued
“The new species differs from other protocetids in having large, elongated temporal fossae, anteriorly placed pterygoids, elongated parietals, an unfused mandibular symphysis that terminates at the level of P₃, and a relatively enlarged I₃.“

“Unique features of the skull and mandible suggest a capacity for more efficient oral mechanical processing than the typical protocetid condition, thereby allowing for a strong raptorial feeding style.“

All good information, but now it is time for a phylogenetic analysis… The cladogram from Gohar et al. 2021 does not include any taxa basal to Pakicetus, so Phiomicetus can’t nest basal to Pakicetus and Andrewsiphius (Fig. 2) can’t nest with Tenrec (Fig. 2). You have to tell PAUP which taxon is the outgroup (= the basalmost taxon). If you tell PAUP Pakicetus is the outgroup taxon, then the other taxa that would have or might have nested basal to Pakicetus have to find another node to nest in. That’s why the LRT goes back to Ediacaran worms as outgroup taxa.

From the abstract continued
“Recovery of Phiomicetus from the same bed that yielded the remingtonocetid Rayanistes afer provides the first clear evidence for the co-occurrence of the basal cetacean families Remingtonocetidae and Protocetidae in Africa. The discovery of Phiomicetus further augments our understanding of the biogeography and feeding ecology of early whales.”

Andrewsiphius
(Fig. 2) is considered by Gohar et al. a member of the Remingtonocetidae (Fig. 8). The LRT nests Andrewsiphius as a tenrec, and Remingtonocetus basal to Pakicetus. The exclusion of valid more basal taxa is the problem in the Gohar et al. cladogram. Workers still consider the deer, cow and pig basal to whales, another embarrassing tradition borrowed and borrowed again by whale workers.

So where do odontocetes come from?
Anagalids, leptictids and tenrecs produced a bush of aquatic taxa with a large head and long snout: the pakicetids, archaeocetids and finally odontocetes. The extant leptictid, Rhynchocyon (Figs. 6,7), already has that long pointy snout and deer-like, whale-like ankles, but it has been traditionally omitted by whale experts. Same with the tenrecs.