Bony outgrowths on the jaws of an extinct sperm whale support macroraptorial feeding in several stem physeteroids
Several extinct sperm whales (stem Physeteroidea) were recently proposed to differ markedly in their feeding ecology from the suction-feeding modern sperm whales Kogia and Physeter. Based on cranial, mandibular, and dental morphology, these Miocene forms were tentatively identified as macroraptorial...
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ftsmithonian:oai:repository.si.edu:10088/25855 2023-05-15T18:26:47+02:00 Bony outgrowths on the jaws of an extinct sperm whale support macroraptorial feeding in several stem physeteroids Lambert, Olivier Bianucci, Giovanni Beatty, Brian L. 2014 http://hdl.handle.net/10088/25855 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-014-1182-2 unknown Naturwissenschaften Lambert, Olivier, Bianucci, Giovanni, and Beatty, Brian L. 2014. "Bony outgrowths on the jaws of an extinct sperm whale support macroraptorial feeding in several stem physeteroids." Naturwissenschaften . 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-014-1182-2 0028-1042 http://hdl.handle.net/10088/25855 121309 doi:10.1007/s00114-014-1182-2 Journal Article 2014 ftsmithonian https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-014-1182-2 2020-09-09T18:34:46Z Several extinct sperm whales (stem Physeteroidea) were recently proposed to differ markedly in their feeding ecology from the suction-feeding modern sperm whales Kogia and Physeter. Based on cranial, mandibular, and dental morphology, these Miocene forms were tentatively identified as macroraptorial feeders, able to consume proportionally large prey using their massive teeth and robust jaws. However, until now, no corroborating evidence for the use of teeth during predation was available. We report on a new specimen of the stem physeteroid Acrophyseter, from the late middle to early late Miocene of Peru, displaying unusual bony outgrowths along some of the upper alveoli. Considering their position and outer shape, these are identified as buccal maxillary exostoses. More developed along posterior teeth and in tight contact with the high portion of the dental root outside the bony alveoli, the exostoses are hypothesized to have developed during powerful bites; they may have worked as buttresses, strengthening the teeth when facing intense occlusal forces. These buccal exostoses further support a raptorial feeding technique for Acrophyseter and, indirectly, for other extinct sperm whales with a similar oral apparatus (Brygmophyseter, Livyatan, Zygophyseter). With a wide size range, these Miocene stem physeteroids were major marine macropredators, occupying ecological niches nowadays mostly taken by killer whales. NH-Paleobiology NMNH Peer-reviewed Article in Journal/Newspaper Sperm whale Unknown Naturwissenschaften 101 6 517 521 |
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Several extinct sperm whales (stem Physeteroidea) were recently proposed to differ markedly in their feeding ecology from the suction-feeding modern sperm whales Kogia and Physeter. Based on cranial, mandibular, and dental morphology, these Miocene forms were tentatively identified as macroraptorial feeders, able to consume proportionally large prey using their massive teeth and robust jaws. However, until now, no corroborating evidence for the use of teeth during predation was available. We report on a new specimen of the stem physeteroid Acrophyseter, from the late middle to early late Miocene of Peru, displaying unusual bony outgrowths along some of the upper alveoli. Considering their position and outer shape, these are identified as buccal maxillary exostoses. More developed along posterior teeth and in tight contact with the high portion of the dental root outside the bony alveoli, the exostoses are hypothesized to have developed during powerful bites; they may have worked as buttresses, strengthening the teeth when facing intense occlusal forces. These buccal exostoses further support a raptorial feeding technique for Acrophyseter and, indirectly, for other extinct sperm whales with a similar oral apparatus (Brygmophyseter, Livyatan, Zygophyseter). With a wide size range, these Miocene stem physeteroids were major marine macropredators, occupying ecological niches nowadays mostly taken by killer whales. NH-Paleobiology NMNH Peer-reviewed |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lambert, Olivier Bianucci, Giovanni Beatty, Brian L. |
spellingShingle |
Lambert, Olivier Bianucci, Giovanni Beatty, Brian L. Bony outgrowths on the jaws of an extinct sperm whale support macroraptorial feeding in several stem physeteroids |
author_facet |
Lambert, Olivier Bianucci, Giovanni Beatty, Brian L. |
author_sort |
Lambert, Olivier |
title |
Bony outgrowths on the jaws of an extinct sperm whale support macroraptorial feeding in several stem physeteroids |
title_short |
Bony outgrowths on the jaws of an extinct sperm whale support macroraptorial feeding in several stem physeteroids |
title_full |
Bony outgrowths on the jaws of an extinct sperm whale support macroraptorial feeding in several stem physeteroids |
title_fullStr |
Bony outgrowths on the jaws of an extinct sperm whale support macroraptorial feeding in several stem physeteroids |
title_full_unstemmed |
Bony outgrowths on the jaws of an extinct sperm whale support macroraptorial feeding in several stem physeteroids |
title_sort |
bony outgrowths on the jaws of an extinct sperm whale support macroraptorial feeding in several stem physeteroids |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10088/25855 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-014-1182-2 |
genre |
Sperm whale |
genre_facet |
Sperm whale |
op_relation |
Naturwissenschaften Lambert, Olivier, Bianucci, Giovanni, and Beatty, Brian L. 2014. "Bony outgrowths on the jaws of an extinct sperm whale support macroraptorial feeding in several stem physeteroids." Naturwissenschaften . 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-014-1182-2 0028-1042 http://hdl.handle.net/10088/25855 121309 doi:10.1007/s00114-014-1182-2 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-014-1182-2 |
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Naturwissenschaften |
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101 |
container_issue |
6 |
container_start_page |
517 |
op_container_end_page |
521 |
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1766208761166299136 |