Semirostrum

Semirostrum; Temporal range: Pliocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
	Skull
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Infraorder:	Cetacea
Family:	Phocoenidae
Genus:	†Semirostrum; Racicot et al., 2014
Species:	†S. ceruttii
Binomial name
	†Semirostrum ceruttii; Racicot et al., 2014

Semirostrum ceruttii is an extinct porpoise that lived between 5 and 1.5 million years ago (Ma), during the Pliocene epoch. The species is highly distinctive due to the extremely long symphysis on the lower jaw, reaching lengths of 85 centimeters (33.46 inches), while that of a modern porpoise are 1–2 centimeters (0.39–0.79 inches) long. The main hypothesis regarding its use is that it probed along the sediment in the murky estuaries and shores of what is now California in search of food, which would easily be scooped up the symphysis and into the jaws. The etymology of the name means "half beak", referring to the upper jaw being half the length of the lower.^[1]

References

^ Rachel A. Racicot; Thomas A. Deméré; Brian L. Beatty; Robert W. Boessenecker (2014). "Unique Feeding Morphology in a New Prognathous Extinct Porpoise from the Pliocene of California". Current Biology. 24 (7): 774–779. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.02.031. PMID 24631245. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |last-author-amp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help)

[1] Rachel A. Racicot; Thomas A. Deméré; Brian L. Beatty; Robert W. Boessenecker (2014). "Unique Feeding Morphology in a New Prognathous Extinct Porpoise from the Pliocene of California". Current Biology. 24 (7): 774–779. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.02.031. PMID 24631245. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |last-author-amp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help)

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