Albertocetus
Appearance
Albertocetus Temporal range:
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Infraorder: | Cetacea |
Family: | †Xenorophidae |
Genus: | †Albertocetus Uhen, 2008 |
Species: | †A. meffordorum
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Binomial name | |
†Albertocetus meffordorum Uhen, 2008
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Albertocetus is an extinct genus of primitive odontocete cetacean from early Oligocene (Rupelian) marine deposits in North Carolina, and belonging to the family Xenorophidae.[1]
Description
[edit]Albertocetus is a relatively small whale, measuring 1.82 metres (6.0 ft) long and weighing approximately 51–73 kilograms (112–161 lb).[2] It is distinguished from other xenorophids in having a large lacrimal bone, a steep ascending process of the maxilla, a short but present intertemporal constriction with a sagittal crest, and a tall median ridge on the premaxilla. The teeth were heterodont, and may have been polydont, because other xenorophids are polydont.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Uhen, M.D. (2008). "A new Xenorophus-like odontocete cetacean from the Oligocene of North Carolina and a discussion of the basal odontocete radiation". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 6 (4): 433–452. Bibcode:2008JSPal...6..433U. doi:10.1017/S1477201908002472. S2CID 86668273.
- ^ Boessenecker, Robert W.; Ahmed, Erum; Geisler, Jonathan H. (2017-11-08). "New records of the dolphin Albertocetus meffordorum (Odontoceti: Xenorophidae) from the lower Oligocene of South Carolina: Encephalization, sensory anatomy, postcranial morphology, and ontogeny of early odontocetes". PLOS ONE. 12 (11): e0186476. Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1286476B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186476. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 5695589. PMID 29117197.