Archaic baleen whale from the Kokoamu Greensand: earbones distinguish a new late Oligocene mysticete (Cetacea: Mysticeti) from New Zealand
†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 wai...
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | unknown |
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Figshare
2016
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Online Access: | https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3263017 https://figshare.com/collections/Archaic_baleen_whale_from_the_Kokoamu_Greensand_earbones_distinguish_a_new_late_Oligocene_mysticete_Cetacea_Mysticeti_from_New_Zealand/3263017 |
Summary: | †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 |
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