| Nanophoca Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Clade: | Pinnipedia |
| Family: | Phocidae |
| Subfamily: | Phocinae |
| Genus: | † Nanophoca Dewaele, Amson, Lambert, and Louwye, 2017 |
| Species | |
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Nanophoca is an extinct genus of earless seals from the middle Miocene of Belgium.
In 1871, Pierre-Joseph van Beneden erected "Phoca" vitulinoides for a maxilla, atlas, sacrum, ulna, two ankle bones, and phalanx from Miocene deposits in the Antwerp region of Belgium. In later papers, he referred some additional material to the species. van Beneden interpreted "P." vitulinoides as a close relative of the harbor seal. [1] [2] [3]
The assignment of vitulinoides to Phoca was cast into doubt in two papers published in 2008 concerning fossil phocids from the North Atlantic realm. Koretsky and Ray (2008) designated the sacrum the lectotype of "P. vitulinoides but nonetheless treated the species as dubious. [4] [5] Based on the discovery of more complete specimens, "Phoca" vitulinoides was finally given its own generic name, Nanophoca. Because the original lectotype material is lost, the partial skeleton IRSNB M2276 has been designated the neotype. [6]
The skeletal anatomy of Nanophoca indicates that it could enhance use of its front flippers to capture prey.[ citation needed ]
Ontocetus is an extinct genus of walrus, an aquatic carnivoran of the family Odobenidae, endemic to coastal regions of the southern North Sea and the southeastern coastal regions of the U.S. during the Miocene-Pleistocene. It lived from 13.6 mya—300,000 years ago, existing for approximately 13.3 million years.
Parietobalaena is an extinct genus of baleen whale, belonging to the family Pelocetidae. Fossils are found in Miocene-aged marine strata in North America, Europe, Australia, and Japan, including the Temblor and Itahashi formations. Based on previous estimates of juvenile specimens, Tsai (2017) suggested a body size of 12-15 m for P. yamaokai, akin to that of the gray whale.
Xiphiacetus is an extinct genus of cetacean known from the Miocene (early Burdigalian to late Tortonian, 20.43 to 7.246 million years ago of Europe and the U.S. East Coast.
Mesocetus is an extinct genus of baleen whale from the Miocene of Europe and North America.
Scaldicetus is an extinct genus of highly predatory macroraptorial sperm whale. Although widely used for a number of extinct physeterids with primitive dental morphology consisting of enameled teeth, Scaldicetus as generally recognized appears to be a wastebasket taxon filled with more-or-less unrelated primitive sperm whales.
Heterocetus is a dubious genus of extinct cetacean.
Balaenotus is an extinct genus of cetaceans from the Pliocene of Belgium.
Herpetocetus is a genus of cetotheriid mysticete in the subfamily Herpetocetinae. Considerably smaller than modern baleen whales, Herpetocetus measured only 3 to 4 meters in length. Additionally, due to the structure of its jaw, it was unable to open its mouth as wide as modern baleen whales, making it incapable of lunge feeding.
Protororqualus is a genus of extinct rorqual from the late Pliocene of Mount Pulgnasco, Italy.
Plesiocetus is a genus of extinct rorquals found worldwide. It has had a chequered taxonomic history, having served as a wastebasket genus for a handful of mysticete species.
Cetotheriopsis is a genus of extinct cetaceans of the family Cetotheriopsidae.
Monotherium is an extinct genus of phocid belonging to the subfamily Monachinae. It is known from fossils found in the middle to late Miocene of Belgium.
Aglaocetus is a genus of extinct baleen whales known from the Miocene of Patagonia, the US Eastern Seaboard, Japan and the Low Countries. It was once considered a member of Cetotheriidae along with many other putative cetotheres, but was recently recognized as representing a distinct family from true Cetotheriidae.
Phocanella is an extinct genus of earless seals from the early Pliocene of Belgium and the US Eastern Seaboard.
Platyphoca is an extinct genus of earless seals from Neogene marine deposits in the North Sea basin.
Gryphoca is an extinct genus of earless seals from Neogene marine deposits in the North Sea basin.
Praepusa is an extinct genus of earless seals from Neogene marine deposits in Europe. Five species, P. boeska,P. magyaricus, P. pannonica, P. tarchankutica and P. vindoboensis, are known.
Frisiphoca is an extinct genus of phocid belonging to the subfamily Phocinae. It is known from fossils found in the late Miocene of Belgium.
Eudelphis is an extinct genus of sperm whale belonging to Physeteroidea that lived in the ancient North Sea basin about 16-11 million years ago, during the middle Miocene (Langhian).
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