| Zarhinocetus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Infraorder: | Cetacea |
| Family: | † Allodelphinidae Barnes, 2006 |
| Genus: | † Zarhinocetus Barnes and Reynolds, 2009 |
| Species | |
| |
Zarhinocetus is an extinct genus of whale from the Early to Middle Miocene of the eastern North Pacific.
Zarhinocetus is a member of Allodelphinidae, a family of primitive dolphins related to the South Asian river dolphin, measuring 3.5–5 metres (11–16 ft) in length. The rostrum is narrow and elongated, and the teeth are both polydont and heterodont. Zarhinocetus is distinguished from other allodelphinids in having a depressed medial part of dorsal surface of proximal part of rostrum, enlarged tubercle present on dorsolateral surface of maxilla anterior to antorbital notch, supraorbital process of frontal thicker dorsoventrally, anteroposteriorly-oriented crest present on dorsal surface of supraorbital process of maxilla, bony orbit of larger diameter, dorsal exposures of frontals on cranial vertex asymmetrical with midline suture located to left of cranial midline, zygomatic process of squamosal nearly rectangular in lateral view rather than arc shaped, nuchal crest curving anteriorly at apex posterior to cranial vertex, occipital shield larger and more vertically oriented, occipital condyles proportionally larger; petrosal more massive, with anterior process more robust, posterior process shorter, posterior articular facet for tympanic bulla smaller; tympanic bulla with outer lip more inflated. [1]
The type species, Zarhinocetus errabundus, was originally described as a new species of Squalodon , S. errabundus. [2] Later authors recognized it as generically distinct from Squalodon, [3] [4] and in 2009 the name Zarhinocetus was coined for S. errabundus. [5]
The nature of the sediments in which Zarhinocetus has been found denotes a neritic environment for the genus. The advanced degree of telescoping in the cranium shows that it could track prey using echolocation. [1]
Odobenocetops is an extinct genus of small toothed whale known from Peru and Chile. Its fossils are found in Neogene-aged marine strata dating from the Tortonian to the Zanclean. It had two tusks, and, in some fossils, one tusk was longer than the other.
Clidastes is an extinct genus of marine lizard belonging to the mosasaur family. It is classified as part of the Mosasaurinae subfamily, alongside genera like Mosasaurus and Prognathodon. Clidastes is known from deposits ranging in age from the Coniacian to the early Campanian in the United States.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to human anatomy:
Plesiotylosaurus, meaning "near Tylosaurus", is an extinct genus of marine lizard belonging to the mosasaur family. It is classified as part of the Mosasaurinae subfamily, alongside genera like Mosasaurus and Prognathodon. The genus contains one species, Plesiotylosaurus crassidens, recovered from deposits of Middle Maastrichtian age in the Moreno Formation in California.
Mesocetus is an extinct genus of baleen whale from the Miocene of Europe.
"Balaenoptera" ryani is an extinct species of Balaenopteridae from the late Miocene of California. It was originally considered a species of Balaenoptera, but is now recognized as more primitive than any extant or fossil balaenopterid and thus in need of a new generic name.
Mixocetus is a genus of extinct baleen whale belonging to the family Tranatocetidae. It is known only from the late Miocene (Tortonian) of Los Angeles County, California.
Otekaikea is an extinct genus of toothed whale closely related to Waipatia. It is known from the late Oligocene (Chattian) of New Zealand.
Eomysticetidae is a family of extinct mysticetes belonging to Chaeomysticeti. It is one of two families in the basal chaeomysticete clade Eomysticetoidea.
Tranatocetus is an extinct genus of mysticete from the late Miocene (Tortonian) of Jutland, Denmark. The type and only species is Tranatocetus argillarius.
Allodelphis is an extinct genus of whale belonging to Allodelphinidae found in marine deposits of the eastern North Pacific.
Horopeta is a genus of baleen whale from the Late Oligocene (Chattian) Kokoamu Greensand of New Zealand.
Allodelphinidae is a family of primitive platanistoid river dolphins found in marine deposits in the eastern North Pacific region, Alaska, and Japan.
Arktocara is an extinct genus of river dolphin from the Oligocene epoch of Alaska, containing one species, A. yakataga. Having been discovered in 25-million-year-old strata near the 60th parallel north, it is perhaps the oldest known crown toothed whale and the northmost river dolphin discovered. It was a member of the now-extinct family Allodelphinidae, along with the genera Allodelphis, Goedertius, Ninjadelphis, and Zarhinocetus. It measured approximately 2.26 or 2.28 meters, comparable to its closest living relative, the South Asian river dolphin, which measures 2.4 meters (7.9 ft). However, the animal probably had an elongated beak and neck, so it may have been longer. The animal is known only from a partially preserved skull. Its ecology may have been similar to the modern day Dall's porpoise, and it may have competed with contemporaneous delphinoids. Its remains were found in the Poul Creek Formation, which has also yielded several mollusk species.
Goedertius is an extinct genus of river dolphin from the early Miocene (Burdigalian) Nye Formation of Oregon.
Ninjadelphis is an extinct genus of river dolphin from the early Miocene (Burdigalian) of Japan.
Pomatodelphis is an extinct genus of river dolphin from Middle Miocene marine deposits in Alabama, Florida, Brazil, Germany and France.
Prepomatodelphis is an extinct genus of river dolphin from Early Miocene marine deposits in Austria.
Inticetus is an extinct genus of Early Miocene odontocete from the Chilcatay Formation, Pisco Basin, Peru.
Macrosqualodelphis is an extinct genus of river dolphins from the Early Miocene (Burdigalian) Chilcatay Formation of the Pisco Basin, Peru. The type species is M. ukupachai.
