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Cetotherium

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 68.4.28.33 (talk) at 01:53, 5 March 2014 (Cetotherium polyporum is a new combination for Eschrichtius polyporus, a nomen dubium at as per Barnes and McLeod (1984), and Cetotherium parvum is a junior objective synonym of the nomen dubium Eschrichtius pusillus). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Cetotherium
Temporal range: Miocene–Pliocene
Mounted skeleton of Cetotherium riabinini
Scientific classification
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Cetotherium

Species[1]

C. crassangulum Cope 1895
C. furlongi Kellogg 1925
C. incertum Brandt 1873
C. klinderi Brandt 1871
C. mayeri Brandt 1871
C. priscum Eichwald 1840
C. pusillum Nordmann 1860
C. rathkei Brandt 1843(type)
C. riabinini Hofstein 1948

Cetotherium ("whale beast") is a genus of extinct cetaceans from the family Cetotheriidae.[2]

Taxonomy

The family Cetotheriidae and the genus Cetotherium (sensu lato) have been used as wastebaskets for all kinds of baleen whales, most notably by Brandt 1873, Spassky (1954) and Mčedlidze 1970. Based on more recent phylogenetic studies and revisions of many 19th century genera, much smaller monophyletic Cetotheriidae and Cetotherium sensu stricto is limited to a single or only a few species. For example, Gol'din, Startsev & Krakhmalnaya 2013 included only C. rathkii and C. riabinini in the genus and only ten genera in the family.[3]

Evolution

Restoration of C. furlongi

Cetotheres came into existence during the Oligocene epoch. The cetotheres have been divided into two sub-groups. One group includes Cetotherium. From evolutionary perspective, these whales share some characteristics of the Balaenopteridae and Eschrichtiidae.[4]

Paleobiology

Fossil record have revealed predator-prey relationship between large sharks (e.g. C. megalodon) and Cetotheriids. The raptorial toothed whale, Livyatan melvillei, may too have posed a threat to these whales.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ "Classification of the family Cetotheriidae". Fossilwork. Retrieved December 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ Berta & Deméré 2008
  3. ^ Gol'din, Startsev & Krakhmalnaya 2013, pp. 2, 4–6
  4. ^ Kimura & Ozawa 2002

Sources