Koristocetus pescei gen. et sp. nov., a diminutive sperm whale (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Kogiidae) from the late Miocene of Peru
Among odontocetes, members of the family Kogiidae (pygmy and dwarf sperm whales) are known as small-sized and in many respects enigmatic relatives of the great sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus . Most of the still scanty fossil record of Kogiidae is represented by isolated skulls and ear bones from...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5194/fr-20-259-2017 https://doaj.org/article/e7e1a8073ed5413499c4a1668cbf2f71 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:e7e1a8073ed5413499c4a1668cbf2f71 2024-02-04T10:03:57+01:00 Koristocetus pescei gen. et sp. nov., a diminutive sperm whale (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Kogiidae) from the late Miocene of Peru A. Collareta O. Lambert C. de Muizon M. Urbina G. Bianucci 2017-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/fr-20-259-2017 https://doaj.org/article/e7e1a8073ed5413499c4a1668cbf2f71 EN eng Pensoft Publishers https://www.foss-rec.net/20/259/2017/fr-20-259-2017.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/2193-0066 https://doaj.org/toc/2193-0074 doi:10.5194/fr-20-259-2017 2193-0066 2193-0074 https://doaj.org/article/e7e1a8073ed5413499c4a1668cbf2f71 Fossil Record, Vol 20, Pp 259-278 (2017) Paleontology QE701-760 article 2017 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/fr-20-259-2017 2024-01-07T01:45:41Z Among odontocetes, members of the family Kogiidae (pygmy and dwarf sperm whales) are known as small-sized and in many respects enigmatic relatives of the great sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus . Most of the still scanty fossil record of Kogiidae is represented by isolated skulls and ear bones from Neogene deposits of the Northern Hemisphere, with the significant exception of Scaphokogia , a highly autapomorphic genus from late Miocene deposits of the Pisco Formation exposed along the southern coast of Peru. Here we report on a new fossil kogiid from Aguada de Lomas, a site where the late Miocene beds of the Pisco Formation are exposed. This specimen consists of an almost complete cranium representing a new taxon of Kogiidae: Koristocetus pescei gen. et sp. nov. Koristocetus mainly differs from extant Kogia spp. by displaying a larger temporal fossa and well-individualized dental alveoli on the upper jaws. Coupled with a relatively elongated rostrum, these characters suggest that Koristocetus retained some degree of raptorial feeding abilities, contrasting with the strong suction feeding specialization seen in Recent kogiids. Our phylogenetic analysis recognizes Koristocetus as the earliest branching member of the subfamily Kogiinae. Interestingly, Koristocetus shared the southern coast of present-day Peru with members of the genus Scaphokogia , whose unique convex rostrum and unusual neurocranial morphology seemingly indicate a peculiar foraging specialization that has still to be understood. In conclusion, Koristocetus evokes a long history of high diversity, morphological disparity, and sympatric habits in fossil kogiids, thus suggesting that our comprehension of the evolutionary history of pygmy and dwarf sperm whales is still far from being exhaustive. Article in Journal/Newspaper Physeter macrocephalus Sperm whale Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Fossa ENVELOPE(9.795,9.795,62.990,62.990) Pisco ENVELOPE(-62.450,-62.450,-62.950,-62.950) Fossil Record 20 2 259 278 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Paleontology QE701-760 |
spellingShingle |
Paleontology QE701-760 A. Collareta O. Lambert C. de Muizon M. Urbina G. Bianucci Koristocetus pescei gen. et sp. nov., a diminutive sperm whale (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Kogiidae) from the late Miocene of Peru |
topic_facet |
Paleontology QE701-760 |
description |
Among odontocetes, members of the family Kogiidae (pygmy and dwarf sperm whales) are known as small-sized and in many respects enigmatic relatives of the great sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus . Most of the still scanty fossil record of Kogiidae is represented by isolated skulls and ear bones from Neogene deposits of the Northern Hemisphere, with the significant exception of Scaphokogia , a highly autapomorphic genus from late Miocene deposits of the Pisco Formation exposed along the southern coast of Peru. Here we report on a new fossil kogiid from Aguada de Lomas, a site where the late Miocene beds of the Pisco Formation are exposed. This specimen consists of an almost complete cranium representing a new taxon of Kogiidae: Koristocetus pescei gen. et sp. nov. Koristocetus mainly differs from extant Kogia spp. by displaying a larger temporal fossa and well-individualized dental alveoli on the upper jaws. Coupled with a relatively elongated rostrum, these characters suggest that Koristocetus retained some degree of raptorial feeding abilities, contrasting with the strong suction feeding specialization seen in Recent kogiids. Our phylogenetic analysis recognizes Koristocetus as the earliest branching member of the subfamily Kogiinae. Interestingly, Koristocetus shared the southern coast of present-day Peru with members of the genus Scaphokogia , whose unique convex rostrum and unusual neurocranial morphology seemingly indicate a peculiar foraging specialization that has still to be understood. In conclusion, Koristocetus evokes a long history of high diversity, morphological disparity, and sympatric habits in fossil kogiids, thus suggesting that our comprehension of the evolutionary history of pygmy and dwarf sperm whales is still far from being exhaustive. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
A. Collareta O. Lambert C. de Muizon M. Urbina G. Bianucci |
author_facet |
A. Collareta O. Lambert C. de Muizon M. Urbina G. Bianucci |
author_sort |
A. Collareta |
title |
Koristocetus pescei gen. et sp. nov., a diminutive sperm whale (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Kogiidae) from the late Miocene of Peru |
title_short |
Koristocetus pescei gen. et sp. nov., a diminutive sperm whale (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Kogiidae) from the late Miocene of Peru |
title_full |
Koristocetus pescei gen. et sp. nov., a diminutive sperm whale (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Kogiidae) from the late Miocene of Peru |
title_fullStr |
Koristocetus pescei gen. et sp. nov., a diminutive sperm whale (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Kogiidae) from the late Miocene of Peru |
title_full_unstemmed |
Koristocetus pescei gen. et sp. nov., a diminutive sperm whale (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Kogiidae) from the late Miocene of Peru |
title_sort |
koristocetus pescei gen. et sp. nov., a diminutive sperm whale (cetacea: odontoceti: kogiidae) from the late miocene of peru |
publisher |
Pensoft Publishers |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/fr-20-259-2017 https://doaj.org/article/e7e1a8073ed5413499c4a1668cbf2f71 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(9.795,9.795,62.990,62.990) ENVELOPE(-62.450,-62.450,-62.950,-62.950) |
geographic |
Fossa Pisco |
geographic_facet |
Fossa Pisco |
genre |
Physeter macrocephalus Sperm whale |
genre_facet |
Physeter macrocephalus Sperm whale |
op_source |
Fossil Record, Vol 20, Pp 259-278 (2017) |
op_relation |
https://www.foss-rec.net/20/259/2017/fr-20-259-2017.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/2193-0066 https://doaj.org/toc/2193-0074 doi:10.5194/fr-20-259-2017 2193-0066 2193-0074 https://doaj.org/article/e7e1a8073ed5413499c4a1668cbf2f71 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/fr-20-259-2017 |
container_title |
Fossil Record |
container_volume |
20 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
259 |
op_container_end_page |
278 |
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1789971811117563904 |