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Dagonodum

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Dagonodum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Ziphiidae
Genus: Dagonodum
Ramassamy, 2016
Species:
D. mojnum
Binomial name
Dagonodum mojnum
Ramassamy, 2016

Dagonodum is an extinct genus of ziphiid cetacean known from Tortonian age marine deposits in the Gram Formation in Denmark. There is only one known species, Dagonodum mojnum.[1]

Etymology

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The genus name is a reference to the god Dagon, worshiped as the head god and as a deity of prosperity in ancient inland Syria, but best known from H.P. Lovecraft's short story, where he is instead depicted as deep-sea deity. The species name is a reference to the word for "goodbye" in the local South Jutlandic dialect where the fossils were found. The word, "mojn", is of German origin, where it is used as both a greeting and a farewell.[1]

Taxonomy

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The species is distinguished by its two pairs of mandibular tusks and long snout. It also possessed a long neck, leading to speculation that it wasn't well suited to deep-dives.[1]

Feeding

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The species is notable for its difference from other ziphiidae of the period in that it seems to be less reliant on suction feeding.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Dagonodum mojnum". www.gbif.org.
  2. ^ Ramassamy, Benjamin; Lauridsen, Henrik (2019). "A new specimen of Ziphiidae (Cetacea, Odontoceti) from the late Miocene of Denmark with morphological evidence for suction feeding behaviour". Royal Society Open Science. 6 (10): 191347. Bibcode:2019RSOS....691347R. doi:10.1098/rsos.191347. PMC 6837206. PMID 31824732.