Squalodelphinidae

Squalodelphinidae
Temporal range: ?late Chattian-Langhian, 23–11.6 Ma
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Artiodactyla
Infraorder:Cetacea
Superfamily:Platanistoidea
Family:†Squalodelphinidae
Dal Piaz, 1917
Genera

Squalodelphinidae is a family of primitive platanistoid river dolphins found in marine deposits in the eastern Pacific, western Atlantic, and Europe.[1]

Description

Distinguishing features of Squalodelphinidae include a moderately elongated and tapered rostrum, posterior cheek teeth being single-rooted but retaining accessory denticles, and marked skull asymmetry. Members of the family can be differentiated from the South Asian river dolphin by their shorter rostrum.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Fossilworks: Squalodelphinidae". fossilworks.org.
  2. ↑ O. Lambert, G. Bianucci, and M. Urbina. 2014. Huaridelphis raimondii, a new early Miocene Squalodelphinidae (Cetacea, Odontoceti) from the Chilcatay Formation, Peru. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 34(5):987-1004
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