Archaic baleen whale from the Kokoamu Greensand: earbones distinguish a new late Oligocene mysticete (Cetacea: Mysticeti) from New Zealand

• Main Authors: CH Tsai, RE Fordyce
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Figshare 2016
• Subjects: Biophysics; Physiology; FOS Biological sciences; Evolutionary Biology; 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified; FOS Earth and related environmental sciences; Ecology; 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified; Infectious Diseases; FOS Health sciences; Fossa; New Zealand; baleen whale
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3263017.v1; https://figshare.com/collections/Archaic_baleen_whale_from_the_Kokoamu_Greensand_earbones_distinguish_a_new_late_Oligocene_mysticete_Cetacea_Mysticeti_from_New_Zealand/3263017/1

†Whakakai waipata is a new genus and species of Mysticeti from the Kokoamu Greensand (Chattian, Late Oligocene, 25–27 Ma) of ‘The Earthquakes’, North Otago. The holotype of †Whakakai waipata is a partial skull, periotics, tympanic bulla, vertebrae and scapula. The earbone morphology of †Whakakai waipata shows a unique combination of diagnostic features including: massive periotic; flange of posterior process and caudal tympanic process flooring stapedial muscle fossa; and an elongated stylomastoid fossa that invades the robust posterior process of the periotic. The tympanoperiotic features in †Whakakai waipata suggest a different acoustic niche from other Oligocene mysticetes, and by inference different feeding habits and habitat. http://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/9D04EC04-1425-4631-9B96-3C279C51E928 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9D04EC04-1425-4631-9B96-3C279C51E928