DOCSLIB.ORG

Review of the Oligocene Cetacea

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Review of the Oligocene Cetacea University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln USGS Staff -- Published Research US Geological Survey 1976 Review of the Oligocene Cetacea Frank C. Whitmore Jr. U.S. Geological Survey Albert E. Sanders The Charleston Museum Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsstaffpub Part of the Earth Sciences Commons Whitmore, Frank C. Jr. and Sanders, Albert E., "Review of the Oligocene Cetacea" (1976). USGS Staff -- Published Research. 237. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsstaffpub/237 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the US Geological Survey at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in USGS Staff -- Published Research by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Systematic Zoology, Vol. 25, No. 4 (Dec., 1976), pp. 304-320 REVIEW OF THE OLIGOCENE CETACEA Abstract Whitmore, F. C., Jr., and Sanders, A. E. (U.S. Geological Survey, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. 20244 and The Charleston Museum, 121 Rutledge Avenue, Charleston, South Carolina 29401). 1976. Review of the Oligocene Cetacea. Syst. 2001. 25:3044'20.-Early in the Oligocene Epoch, Cetacea of the primitive suborder Archaeoceti had already declined sharply from their apparent abundance in Eocene seas. By the beginning of the Miocene, archaeocetes are known to have survived only in the northeast Atlantic and southwest Pacific Oceans. Concurrently with this decline, the first members of the suborders Odontoceti and Mysticeti appeared. They are known from only a few specimens, mostly in upper Oligocene deposits, on both coasts of North America, in Germany, Austria, Italy, the Caucasus, Azerbaijan, Australia, and New Zealand. Two important odontocete genera, Agorophius and Xenorophus, come from beds that are probably no older than late Oligocene and that are certainly not as old as Eocene, where these genera have previously been placed. The wide distribution of known Oligocene Cetacea, especially their presence in Australia and New Zealand, indicates the probable existence of a cosmopolitan cetacean fauna by the end of Oligocene time. The Oligocene Odontoceti are represented by Agorophius and related forms and by the Squalodontidae. Several types of skull telescoping are shown by contemporary members of these groups. Recently collected squalodont skulls from the Oligocene of South Carolina show differences in the pattern of cranial bones that may be ontogenetic. Some toothed whales have morphologic features that have led to their being assigned variously to Archaeoceti and Mysticeti because they are regarded as representing a transitional stage between the two suborders. These forms are all of late Oligocene age; they cannot be mysticete ancestors because true Mysticeti are known from middle Oligocene deposits. Our knowledge of Cetacea that lived in Germany, Austria, Italy, the Caucasus, during the Oligocene Epoch, extending ap- and Azerbaijan. Even allowing for conti- proximately from 37 million to 22 million nental drift, this seems to indicate the years ago (m.y.a.), is less than for any existence of cosmopolitan cetacean faunas other stage in whale evolution, except for during the Oligocene. An interesting ques- the totally unknown transition from land tion, and one we cannot yet answer, is mammals to whales. From this period of whether this fauna was restricted to coastal 15 m.y. we know 20 genera of Cetacea waters or whether some whales had (Table 1). Eleven of these are monotypic, achieved a pelagic existence. and six are known from one specimen each. The first representatives of the two mod- Sixteen of the genera are found only in ern suborders of Cetacea, the Odontoceti rocks of late Oligocene age. Orr and Faul- and Mysticeti, are found in Oligocene haber ( 1975) have discussed possible rocks. In the preceding Eocene Epoch, all causes of the low diversity of Oligocene known Cetacea belonged to the extinct sub- Cetacea. The present study summarizes order Archaeoceti. Strangely, the Eocene the state of our knowledge of whale evolu- Archaeoceti are far better known than are tion during Oligocene time; it is based any Oligocene Cetacea. upon the published literature and also upon studies in progress of several undescribed SUBORDER ARCHAEOCETI specimens recently collected in South Caro- lina and Oregon. The Archaeoceti were fully aquatic but The sparse Oligocene cetacean discov- lacked the drastic skull modifications re- eries are widespread over the world. Speci- lated to efficient breathing, specialized mens have been collected in Australia, New diet, and echo location, that characterized Zealand, on both coasts of North America, the modem suborders. Such modifications OLIGOCENE CETACEA began to appear in Oligocene time in the Odontoceti and Mysticeti and were present to a marked degree in the cetacean fauna Late Oligocene Odontoceti of Miocene time (about 22 m.y. to 5 Incertae sedis m.y.a. ) . The Archaeoceti survived through * *AgorophiusCope, 1895 the Oligocene and are known from early Agriocetus Abel, 1914 Miocene rocks of France and New Zealand PatTZocetus Abel, 1914 ( Kellogg, 1936:272). Compared with the *XenorophusKellogg, 1923 Squalodontidae good Eocene record, that of Oligocene **Australosqualodon Climo & Baker, Archaeoceti is sparse: they have been re- 1972 ported from lower Oligocene deposits of Eosqualodon Rothausen, 1968 the Ukraine and of Vancouver Island (Kel- Microcetus Kellogg, 1923 * Parasqualodon Hall, 1911 logg, 1936:272; but on page 266 he gives Prosqualodon Lydekker, 1894 the age, presumably of the same specimen, Squalodon Grateloup, 1840 as late Eocene) and from the middle Oligo- * * Tangaroasaurus Benham, 1935 cene of New Zealand (Keyes, 1973). Rus- Cetacea incertae sedis sell (1968) has assigned a skull from the *Aetiocetus Emlong, 1966 * *ArchaeodelphisAllen, 1921 Sooke Formation (upper Oligocene) of **Chonecetus Russel, 1968 Vancouver Island to the Archaeoceti. This **FerecetothedumMchedlidze, 1970 specimen, the holotype of Chonecetus Mirocetus Mchedlidze, 1970 sookensis Russell, 1968, is being restudied Mysticeti Cetotheriidae by Edward Mitchell, who has expressed Middle Oligocene doubt (paper presented during the August, Archaeoceti 1975, symposium) as to the propriety of its Dorudontidae assignment to the Archaeoceti. *Kekenodon Hector, 1881 Early Oligocene Archaeoceti are knoivn Odontoceti Squalodontidae only from vertebrae (Kellogg, 1936:98-99; Squalodon? 269), whkh indicate a large size. An early Mysticeti Oligocene species, Platyosphys puulsonii Cetotheriidae (Brandt) from the Ukraine, had vertebral Mauicetus Benham, 1939 Early Oligocene centra 190 to 283 mm long. Better known Archaeoceti is Kekenodon onomata Hector from New Incertae sedis Zealand, which Keyes (1973:389) placed Platyosphys Kellogg, 1936 in the middle Oligocene. Teeth, parts of * Monotypic genus. ** Known from only one s ecimen. the skull, ear bones, and postcranial mate- Note: Uncamentodon iectori and OM osqualodon rial of this species have been recovered; wingei, Oligocene species cited by Rothausen R970:186), are taxa described m a manuscript that has pot yet been they indicate a smaller animal than the iublished (Rothausen, personal commu.mcabon, Jaquary 8, 1975). We have been unable to find the pubhshed early Oligocene forms-about 23 feet (7m) descrl ban of Olagodelphrs azerbaidlanrc~ Aslanova and ~cheilidze,1968, an Oligocene specles clted by Mched- long ( McKay, 1882: 104). Kellogg ( 1936: liaze (1970:20). 11) placed Kekenodon in the Dorudontidae. In contrast to the Archaeoceti, the skulls of members of the modern suborders Odon- striking aquatic adaptation visible in fossil toceti and Mysticeti show a progressive remains and results in drastic modifications phenomenon called telescoping, marked by related to specialized diet, such as plankton backward movement of the nares toward feeding, in the Mysticeti and to echo loca- the vertex, or highest point, of the skull. tion in the Odontoceti (Norris, 1968, 1975). The new location of the nares resulted in more efficient breathing. Telescoping took SUBORDER ODONTOCETI place, in different ways, in both Odontoceti The best known Oligocene members of and Mysticeti (Miller, 1923). It is the most the Odontoceti are the Squalodontidae, a 306 SYSTEMATIC ZOOLOGY or pr. FIG. 1.-a. Xenorophus sloanii Kellogg. Reconstruction of skull in dorsal view. b. Agorophius pyg- maeus (Miiller). Dorsal view of skull from Kellogg (1928) and Agassiz in True (1907). Key to abbreviations: Ant. n.-Antorbital notch; C.--Occipital condyle; Ex. oc.-Exoccipital; Fr.-Frontal; La.-Lacrimal; Max.-Maxilla; Na.-Nasal; 01.-Olfactory region; Pa.-Parietal; Prnx.-Premaxilla; Sq.-Squamosal; S. oc.-Supraoccipital; S. or. pr.-Supraorbital process of frontal; Zyg.-Zygomatic process of squamosal. widespread and successful family first doubtful genera are listed under Odonto- known in early Oligocene deposits of New ceti incertae sedis and Cetacea incertae Zealand (Keyes, 1973). They are known sedis in Table 1. None of them survived from middle Oligocene rocks of Germany into the Miocene. Among these primitive and from late Oligocene deposits of Ger- nonsqualodont genera may be the ancestors many (Rothhausen, 1958, 1968,1970), Italy of modem Odontoceti, and they probably (Rothausen, 1958), U.S.S.R. ( Dubrovo also include structural forms similar to the and Sharkov, 1971) , Australia ( Glaessner, ancestors of the Mysticeti. However, the 1955), and New Zealand (Benham, 1937a,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • JVP 26(3) September 2006—ABSTRACTS
    Neoceti Symposium, Saturday 8:45 acid-prepared osteolepiforms Medoevia and Gogonasus has offered strong support for BODY SIZE AND CRYPTIC TROPHIC SEPARATION OF GENERALIZED Jarvik’s interpretation, but Eusthenopteron itself has not been reexamined in detail. PIERCE-FEEDING CETACEANS: THE ROLE OF FEEDING DIVERSITY DUR- Uncertainty has persisted about the relationship between the large endoskeletal “fenestra ING THE RISE OF THE NEOCETI endochoanalis” and the apparently much smaller choana, and about the occlusion of upper ADAM, Peter, Univ. of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA; JETT, Kristin, Univ. of and lower jaw fangs relative to the choana. California, Davis, Davis, CA; OLSON, Joshua, Univ. of California, Los Angeles, Los A CT scan investigation of a large skull of Eusthenopteron, carried out in collaboration Angeles, CA with University of Texas and Parc de Miguasha, offers an opportunity to image and digital- Marine mammals with homodont dentition and relatively little specialization of the feeding ly “dissect” a complete three-dimensional snout region. We find that a choana is indeed apparatus are often categorized as generalist eaters of squid and fish. However, analyses of present, somewhat narrower but otherwise similar to that described by Jarvik. It does not many modern ecosystems reveal the importance of body size in determining trophic parti- receive the anterior coronoid fang, which bites mesial to the edge of the dermopalatine and tioning and diversity among predators. We established relationships between body sizes of is received by a pit in that bone. The fenestra endochoanalis is partly floored by the vomer extant cetaceans and their prey in order to infer prey size and potential trophic separation of and the dermopalatine, restricting the choana to the lateral part of the fenestra.
    [Show full text]
  • Arktocara Yakataga, a New Fossil Odontocete (Mammalia, Cetacea) from the Oligocene of Alaska and the Antiquity of Platanistoidea
    Arktocara yakataga, a new fossil odontocete (Mammalia, Cetacea) from the Oligocene of Alaska and the antiquity of Platanistoidea Alexandra T. Boersma1,2 and Nicholas D. Pyenson1,3 1 Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., United States of America 2 College of Extended Education, California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA, United States of America 3 Departments of Mammology and Paleontology, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, WA, United States of America ABSTRACT The diversification of crown cetacean lineages (i.e., crown Odontoceti and crown Mysticeti) occurred throughout the Oligocene, but it remains an ongoing challenge to resolve the phylogenetic pattern of their origins, especially with respect to stem lineages. One extant monotypic lineage, Platanista gangetica (the Ganges and Indus river dolphin), is the sole surviving member of the broader group Platanistoidea, with many fossil relatives that range from Oligocene to Miocene in age. Curiously, the highly threatened Platanista is restricted today to freshwater river systems of South Asia, yet nearly all fossil platanistoids are known globally from marine rocks, suggesting a marine ancestry for this group. In recent years, studies on the phylogenetic relationships in Platanistoidea have reached a general consensus about the membership of different sub-clades and putative extinct groups, although the position of some platanistoid groups (e.g., Waipatiidae) has been contested. Here we describe a new genus and species of fossil platanistoid, Arktocara yakataga, gen. et sp. nov. from the Oligocene of Alaska, USA. The type and only known specimen was collected from the marine Poul Submitted 16 May 2016 Creek Formation, a unit known to include Oligocene strata, exposed in the Yakutat Accepted 13 July 2016 City and Borough of Southeast Alaska.
    [Show full text]
  • The Shark-Toothed Dolphin Squalodon Cetacea
    Carnets Geol. 20 (2) E-ISSN 1634-0744 DOI 10.4267/2042/70716 The shark-toothed dolphin Squalodon (Cetacea: Odontoceti) from the remarkable Montagna della Majella marine vertebrate assemblage (Bolognano Formation, central Italy) Alberto COLLARETA 1 Andrea DI CENCIO 2 Renato RICCI 3 Giovanni BIANUCCI 4 Abstract: The extinct family Squalodontidae consists of heterodont, medium-sized odontocetes, featu- ring a long rostrum that houses large, procumbent incisors and heavily ornamented postcanine teeth carrying accessory denticles, hence their vernacular name, "shark-toothed dolphins". These longirostri- ne toothed whales are often seen as bridging the anatomical gap between archaic Oligocene odontoce- tes and their late Miocene to Holocene relatives. Possibly among the major marine predators of their ti- me, the shark-toothed dolphins are important components of several lower Miocene marine-mammal assemblages from the North Atlantic and Mediterranean/Paratethysian realms. In the present work, a partial skull of Squalodontidae is described from the strata of the Bolognano Formation cropping out in the northeastern sector of the Montagna della Majella massif (Abruzzo, central Italy), which has pre- viously yielded a rich lower Miocene marine-vertebrate assemblage, including eleven taxa of elasmo- branchs as well as subordinate teleosts and very fragmentary remains of marine reptiles and mam- mals. The specimen consists of the anterodorsal portion of a rostrum, preserving parts of both pre- maxillae and left maxilla, and the anteriormost seven upper left teeth. This partial skull is here identi- fied as belonging to the genus Squalodon, whose presence in the Montagna della Majella vertebrate assemblage had already been tentatively proposed on the basis of two fragmentary teeth.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Middle Eocene Protocetid Whale (Mammalia: Cetacea: Archaeoceti) and Associated Biota from Georgia Author(S): Richard C
    A New Middle Eocene Protocetid Whale (Mammalia: Cetacea: Archaeoceti) and Associated Biota from Georgia Author(s): Richard C. Hulbert, Jr., Richard M. Petkewich, Gale A. Bishop, David Bukry and David P. Aleshire Source: Journal of Paleontology , Sep., 1998, Vol. 72, No. 5 (Sep., 1998), pp. 907-927 Published by: Paleontological Society Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1306667 REFERENCES Linked references are available on JSTOR for this article: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1306667?seq=1&cid=pdf- reference#references_tab_contents You may need to log in to JSTOR to access the linked references. JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at https://about.jstor.org/terms SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology and are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal of Paleontology This content downloaded from 131.204.154.192 on Thu, 08 Apr 2021 18:43:05 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms J. Paleont., 72(5), 1998, pp. 907-927 Copyright ? 1998, The Paleontological Society 0022-3360/98/0072-0907$03.00 A NEW MIDDLE EOCENE PROTOCETID WHALE (MAMMALIA: CETACEA: ARCHAEOCETI) AND ASSOCIATED BIOTA FROM GEORGIA RICHARD C. HULBERT, JR.,1 RICHARD M. PETKEWICH,"4 GALE A.
    [Show full text]
  • PDF of Manuscript and Figures
    The triple origin of whales DAVID PETERS Independent Researcher 311 Collinsville Avenue, Collinsville, IL 62234, USA [email protected] 314-323-7776 July 13, 2018 RH: PETERS—TRIPLE ORIGIN OF WHALES Keywords: Cetacea, Mysticeti, Odontoceti, Phylogenetic analyis ABSTRACT—Workers presume the traditional whale clade, Cetacea, is monophyletic when they support a hypothesis of relationships for baleen whales (Mysticeti) rooted on stem members of the toothed whale clade (Odontoceti). Here a wider gamut phylogenetic analysis recovers Archaeoceti + Odontoceti far apart from Mysticeti and right whales apart from other mysticetes. The three whale clades had semi-aquatic ancestors with four limbs. The clade Odontoceti arises from a lineage that includes archaeocetids, pakicetids, tenrecs, elephant shrews and anagalids: all predators. The clade Mysticeti arises from a lineage that includes desmostylians, anthracobunids, cambaytheres, hippos and mesonychids: none predators. Right whales are derived from a sister to Desmostylus. Other mysticetes arise from a sister to the RBCM specimen attributed to Behemotops. Basal mysticetes include Caperea (for right whales) and Miocaperea (for all other mysticetes). Cetotheres are not related to aetiocetids. Whales and hippos are not related to artiodactyls. Rather the artiodactyl-type ankle found in basal archaeocetes is also found in the tenrec/odontocete clade. Former mesonychids, Sinonyx and Andrewsarchus, nest close to tenrecs. These are novel observations and hypotheses of mammal interrelationships based on morphology and a wide gamut taxon list that includes relevant taxa that prior studies ignored. Here some taxa are tested together for the first time, so they nest together for the first time. INTRODUCTION Marx and Fordyce (2015) reported the genesis of the baleen whale clade (Mysticeti) extended back to Zygorhiza, Physeter and other toothed whales (Archaeoceti + Odontoceti).
    [Show full text]
  • 71St Annual Meeting Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Paris Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada, USA November 2 – 5, 2011 SESSION CONCURRENT SESSION CONCURRENT
    ISSN 1937-2809 online Journal of Supplement to the November 2011 Vertebrate Paleontology Vertebrate Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Society of Vertebrate 71st Annual Meeting Paleontology Society of Vertebrate Las Vegas Paris Nevada, USA Las Vegas, November 2 – 5, 2011 Program and Abstracts Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 71st Annual Meeting Program and Abstracts COMMITTEE MEETING ROOM POSTER SESSION/ CONCURRENT CONCURRENT SESSION EXHIBITS SESSION COMMITTEE MEETING ROOMS AUCTION EVENT REGISTRATION, CONCURRENT MERCHANDISE SESSION LOUNGE, EDUCATION & OUTREACH SPEAKER READY COMMITTEE MEETING POSTER SESSION ROOM ROOM SOCIETY OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING PARIS LAS VEGAS HOTEL LAS VEGAS, NV, USA NOVEMBER 2–5, 2011 HOST COMMITTEE Stephen Rowland, Co-Chair; Aubrey Bonde, Co-Chair; Joshua Bonde; David Elliott; Lee Hall; Jerry Harris; Andrew Milner; Eric Roberts EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Philip Currie, President; Blaire Van Valkenburgh, Past President; Catherine Forster, Vice President; Christopher Bell, Secretary; Ted Vlamis, Treasurer; Julia Clarke, Member at Large; Kristina Curry Rogers, Member at Large; Lars Werdelin, Member at Large SYMPOSIUM CONVENORS Roger B.J. Benson, Richard J. Butler, Nadia B. Fröbisch, Hans C.E. Larsson, Mark A. Loewen, Philip D. Mannion, Jim I. Mead, Eric M. Roberts, Scott D. Sampson, Eric D. Scott, Kathleen Springer PROGRAM COMMITTEE Jonathan Bloch, Co-Chair; Anjali Goswami, Co-Chair; Jason Anderson; Paul Barrett; Brian Beatty; Kerin Claeson; Kristina Curry Rogers; Ted Daeschler; David Evans; David Fox; Nadia B. Fröbisch; Christian Kammerer; Johannes Müller; Emily Rayfield; William Sanders; Bruce Shockey; Mary Silcox; Michelle Stocker; Rebecca Terry November 2011—PROGRAM AND ABSTRACTS 1 Members and Friends of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, The Host Committee cordially welcomes you to the 71st Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology in Las Vegas.
    [Show full text]
  • 4. Palaeontology
    Zurich Open Repository and Archive University of Zurich Main Library Strickhofstrasse 39 CH-8057 Zurich www.zora.uzh.ch Year: 2015 Palaeontology Klug, Christian ; Scheyer, Torsten M ; Cavin, Lionel Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich ZORA URL: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-113739 Conference or Workshop Item Presentation Originally published at: Klug, Christian; Scheyer, Torsten M; Cavin, Lionel (2015). Palaeontology. In: Swiss Geoscience Meeting, Basel, 20 November 2015 - 21 November 2015. 136 4. Palaeontology Christian Klug, Torsten Scheyer, Lionel Cavin Schweizerische Paläontologische Gesellschaft, Kommission des Schweizerischen Paläontologischen Abhandlungen (KSPA) Symposium 4: Palaeontology TALKS: 4.1 Aguirre-Fernández G., Jost J.: Re-evaluation of the fossil cetaceans from Switzerland 4.2 Costeur L., Mennecart B., Schmutz S., Métais G.: Palaeomeryx (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) and the giraffes, data from the ear region 4.3 Foth C., Hedrick B.P., Ezcurra M.D.: Ontogenetic variation and heterochronic processes in the cranial evolution of early saurischians 4.4 Frey L., Rücklin M., Kindlimann R., Klug C.: Alpha diversity and palaeoecology of a Late Devonian Fossillagerstätte from Morocco and its exceptionally preserved fish fauna 4.5 Joyce W.G., Rabi M.: A Revised Global Biogeography of Turtles 4.6 Klug C., Frey L., Rücklin M.: A Famennian Fossillagerstätte in the eastern Anti-Atlas of Morocco: its fauna and taphonomy 4.7 Leder R.M.: Morphometric analysis of teeth of fossil and recent carcharhinid selachiens
    [Show full text]
  • Proceedings of the United States National Museum
    DESCRIPTION OF TWO SQUALODONTS RECENTLY DIS- COVERED IN THE CALVERT CLIFFS, ^LVRYLAND; AND NOTES ON THE SHARK-TOOTHED CETACEANS. By Remington Kellogg, Of the Bureau of Biological Survey, United States Departynent of Agriculture. INTRODUCTION. When the study of paleontology was less advanced than it is at present, any announcement of the discovery of prehistoric animals unlike the living indigenous fauna was usually received with some suspicion. In spite of this distrust, many attempts were made by the early writers to explain the presence of fossil remains of marine mammals in strata above the sea level or at some distance from the seashore. In one of these treatises ' is found what is, apparently, the first notice of the occurrence of fossil remains referable to shark- toothed cetaceans. The author of this work figures a fragment of a mandible, obtained from the tufa of Malta, which possesses three serrate double-rooted molar teeth. Squalodonts as such were first brought to the attention of ]mleon- tologists in 1840, by J. P. S. Grateloup, ' a French naturalist primarily interested in marine invertebrates. In the original description of Squalodon, Grateloup held the view that this rostral fragment from Leognan, France, belonged to some large saurian related to Iguanodon. Following the anouncement of this discovery. Von Meyer ^ called at- tention to the teeth of this fossil, and concluded that the specimen was referable to some flesh-eating cetacean. A year later, Grateloup* concurred in this opinion. One other specimen should be mentioned in this connection, but, unfortunately, its relationships are quite uncer- tain. This specimen consists of a single tooth which was thought to bear resemblance to some pinniped by Von Meyer ^ and named Pachy- odon mirahilis.
    [Show full text]
  • Whale Evolution: a Whale of a Tale
    Creation Research Society Quarterly 2012. 49:122–134. 122 Creation Research Society Quarterly Whale Evolution: A Whale of a Tale Jerry Bergman* Abstract review of the evolution of whales from terrestrial land animals finds A that the evidence used to support the current theory is either wrong or very questionable. A focus is on the hip bone and fetal teeth evidence because they are commonly used as proof for the land mammal-to-whale evolution theory. The putative fossil evidence for whale evolution from terrestrial animals is also evaluated, concluding that the examples used are likely all extinct mammals and not transitional forms. Introduction be only about 20 feet long, but baleen A major problem has been deter- The term “whale” is a common noun and blue whales can grow up to 100 feet mining which terrestrial animal whales that can refer to all marine mammals long. Toothed whales are, on average, evolved from. Charles Darwin proposed called cetaceans (members of order smaller then baleen whales, ranging one of the first theories of whale evolu- cetacea), including dolphins and por- from 3 to 32 feet long, although most tion, suggesting they evolved from bears. poises. In this paper the term “whales” are from 10 to 30 feet long. Blue whales He wrote, “I can see no difficulty in a excludes both dolphins and porpoises. can weigh up to 150 tons. race of bears being rendered, by natural Classification of whales divides them selection, more and more aquatic in into two groups; toothed whales and their structure and habits, with larger baleen whales, the latter of which use The Origin of Whales and larger mouths, till a creature was large brush-like structures to filter food The evolution of whales is one of the produced as monstrous as a whale” from the ocean.
    [Show full text]
  • How to Cite Complete Issue More Information About This Article
    Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana ISSN: 1405-3322 Sociedad Geológica Mexicana, A.C. Hernández Cisneros, Atzcalli Ehécatl; González Barba, Gerardo; Fordyce, Robert Ewan Oligocene cetaceans from Baja California Sur, Mexico Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana, vol. 69, no. 1, January-April, 2017, pp. 149-173 Sociedad Geológica Mexicana, A.C. Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=94350664007 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System Redalyc More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America and the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Project academic non-profit, developed under the open access initiative Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana / 2017 / 149 Oligocene cetaceans from Baja California Sur, Mexico Atzcalli Ehécatl Hernández Cisneros, Gerardo González Barba, Robert Ewan Fordyce ABSTRACT Atzcalli Ehecatl Hernández Cisneros ABSTRACT RESUMEN [email protected] Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, Univer- Baja California Sur has an import- Baja California Sur tiene un importante re- sidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, ant Cenozoic marine fossil record gistro de fósiles marinos del Cenozoico que Carretera al Sur Km 5.5, Apartado Postal which includes diverse but poorly incluye los restos poco conocidos de cetáceos 19-B, C.P. 23080, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México. known Oligocene cetaceans from del Oligoceno de México. En este estudio Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Inter- Mexico. Here we review the cetacean ofrecemos más detalles sobre estos fósiles de disciplinario de Ciencias Marinas (CICMAR), fossil record including new observa- cetáceos, incluyendo nuevas observaciones Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional s/n, Col.
    [Show full text]
  • The Biology of Marine Mammals
    Romero, A. 2009. The Biology of Marine Mammals. The Biology of Marine Mammals Aldemaro Romero, Ph.D. Arkansas State University Jonesboro, AR 2009 2 INTRODUCTION Dear students, 3 Chapter 1 Introduction to Marine Mammals 1.1. Overture Humans have always been fascinated with marine mammals. These creatures have been the basis of mythical tales since Antiquity. For centuries naturalists classified them as fish. Today they are symbols of the environmental movement as well as the source of heated controversies: whether we are dealing with the clubbing pub seals in the Arctic or whaling by industrialized nations, marine mammals continue to be a hot issue in science, politics, economics, and ethics. But if we want to better understand these issues, we need to learn more about marine mammal biology. The problem is that, despite increased research efforts, only in the last two decades we have made significant progress in learning about these creatures. And yet, that knowledge is largely limited to a handful of species because they are either relatively easy to observe in nature or because they can be studied in captivity. Still, because of television documentaries, ‘coffee-table’ books, displays in many aquaria around the world, and a growing whale and dolphin watching industry, people believe that they have a certain familiarity with many species of marine mammals (for more on the relationship between humans and marine mammals such as whales, see Ellis 1991, Forestell 2002). As late as 2002, a new species of beaked whale was being reported (Delbout et al. 2002), in 2003 a new species of baleen whale was described (Wada et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Cetacea: Archaeoceti)
    THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES miSSISSippi• • • • geology Bureau of Geology Volume 7, Number 2 2525 North West Street December 1986 • Jackson, Mississippi 39216 FEEDING IN THE ARCHAEOCETE WHALE ZYGORHIZA KOCH/I {CETACEA: ARCHAEOCETI) Kenneth Carpenter 1805 Marine St. # C Boulder, Colorado 80302 David White 729 Chickasaw Drive Jackson, Mississippi 39206 ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION In order to test the various feeding hypotheses Archaeocete whales were the dominant predatory presented for the archaeocete whale, Zygorhiza marine mammals of the Eocene (Barnes, Damning, kochii, the masticatory musculature was restored. and Ray, 1985). Skeletal remains are distributed This restoration indicates that the important muscle globally, indicating just how successful these groups in descending order were Temporatis Group animals were. Their fossil remains are especially - Masseter Group - Pterygofdeus Group. This abundant in upper Eocene sediments and have musculature system is typical of carnivores. Tooth provided a great deal of information about their wear, in conjunction with the restored musculature, systematics, anatomy, and functional morphology suggests Zygorhiza primarily fed on fish, and (e.g. Stromer, 1903, 1908; Kellogg, 1928, 1936; possibly on squids as well. Breathnach, 1955; Edinger, 1955; Fleisher, 1976). Figure 1. Skull of Lophodon carcinophagus, AMNH 2194. The diet of archaeocete whales is frequently Yazoo County, Mississippi. The discovery of this assumed to be fish (e.g. Barnes and Mitchell, 1978), specimen is presented in Dockery (1974), Frazier although no detailed morphological evidence has (1980), and Carpenter and Dockery (1985). The local ever been presented in support of this hypothesis. geology is also presented in Dockery (1974), and a Kellogg (1928) suggested that the long rostrum was photographic record of the mounting of the skeleton used as forceps to catch prey.
    [Show full text]