Phiomicetus

In Depth        Phiomicetus is a genus of protocetid whale that lived in North Africa during the Eocene.‭ ‬Analysis of the jaws and teeth shows that Phiomicetus would have been a powerful predator,‭ ‬possibly feeding upon a variety of prey animals.‭ ‬Phiomicetus also seems to have still been capable of easily walking about on land when … Read more

Whakakai

In Depth        Whakakai is a genus of whale that lived in waters around New Zealand during the Oligocene. Further Reading -‭ ‬Archaic baleen whale from the Kokoamu Greensand:‭ ‬earbones distinguish a new late Oligocene mysticete‭ (‬Cetacea:‭ ‬Mysticeti‭) ‬from New Zealand.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand‭ ‬46‭(‬2‭)‬:117-138.‭ ‬-‭ ‬C.‭ ‬H.‭ ‬Tsai‭ & … Read more

Protororqualus

In Depth        Protororqualus is a genus of rorqual baleen whale that lived in European waters during the Pliocene period.‭ ‬Protororqualus is seen to be more primitive in form and living at time when other kinds of rorqual whales were already developing more advanced features.‭ Further reading -‭ ‬Taxonomic revision and phylogenetic relationships of the rorqual-like … Read more

Taikicetus

In Depth        Taikicetus is a genus of baleen whale that lived in waters around Japan during the Miocene. Further Reading -‭ ‬A new species of Middle Miocene baleen whale from the Nupinai Group,‭ ‬Hikatagawa Formation of Hokkaido,‭ ‬Japan.‭ ‬-‭ ‬PeerJ‭ ‬6:e4934.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Y.‭ ‬Tanaka,‭ ‬T.‭ ‬Ando‭ & ‬H.‭ ‬Sawamura‭ ‬-‭ ‬2018.

Incakujira

In Depth        Incakujira is a genus of rorqual whale known to have lived in the waters around South America during the Miocene.‭ ‬As a filter feeder,‭ ‬Incakujira probably filtered out small crustaceans such as krill from the sea water as it swam. Further Reading -‭ ‬A new Miocene baleen whale from the Peruvian desert.‭ ‬-‭ … Read more

Toipahautea

In Depth        Toipahautea is a genus of baleen whale that lived in waters around new Zealand during the Oligocene. Further Reading -‭ ‬A new archaic baleen whale Toipahautea waitaki‭ (‬early Late Oligocene,‭ ‬New Zealand‭) ‬and the origins of crown Mysticeti.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Royal Society Open Science‭ ‬5‭(‬4‭)‬:172453.‭ ‬-‭ ‬C.-H.‭ ‬Tsai & R.‭ ‬E.‭ ‬Fordyce‭ ‬-‭ ‬2018.

Macrosqualodelphis

In Depth        Macrosqualodelphis is a genus of river dolphin that is known to have lived in waters of Peruvian South America during the Miocene. Further Reading -‭ ‬A new large squalodelphinid‭ (‬Cetacea,‭ ‬Odontoceti‭) ‬from Peru sheds light on the Early Miocene platanistoid disparity and ecology.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Royal Society Open Science‭ ‬5‭(‬4‭)‬:172302.‭ ‬-‭ ‬G.‭ ‬Bianucci,‭ ‬G.‭ … Read more

Dilophodelphis

In Depth        Dilophodelphis is a genus of river dolphin that lived during the Miocene.‭ ‬The genus name means two crested delphis‭ (‬delphis being a reference to the dolphin family‭)‬.‭ ‬This is because the skull of Dilophodelphis has two crests of bone. Further Reading -‭ ‬A new fossil dolphin Dilophodelphis fordycei provides insight into the evolution … Read more