Idiorophus

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Idiorophus
Temporal range: Early Miocene
~20.43–15.97  Ma
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Idiorophus patagonicus.jpg
I. patagonicus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Superfamily: Physeteroidea
Family: Physeteridae
Genus: Idiorophus
Kellogg, 1925
Species
  • I. bolzanensisDal Piaz, 1916
  • I. patagonicus Lydekker, 1894
Synonyms
  • ApenophyseterCabrera, 1926

Idiorophus is a genus of extinct toothed whales in the family Physeteridae. Fossils have been found in the Colhuehuapian Gaiman Formation of Argentina and the Libano Sandstone in Italy. [1]

Idirophus is thought to have been 6.61 meters (21.7 ft) The teeth of Idiorophus were similar in size to those of the modern orca. This species is thought to be a highly predatory sperm whale. The teeth are covered in enamel and show wear from eating large prey. [2]

References

  1. "Idiorophus at Fossilworks". Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  2. Hampe, O. (2006). "Middle/late Miocene hoplocetine sperm whale remains (Odontoceti: Physeteridae) of North Germany with an emended classification of the Hoplocetinae". Fossil Record. 9 (1): 61–86. Bibcode:2006FossR...9...61H. doi: 10.1002/mmng.200600002 .

Further reading