Jump to content

Physeterula

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Od Mishehu (talk | contribs) at 04:06, 28 October 2016 ({{Automatic Taxobox}}). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Physeterula
Temporal range: Miocene-Pliocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Physeteridae
Subfamily: Physeterinae
Genus: Physeterula
Van Beneden, 1877
Species

P. dubusi

Physeterula was a prehistoric close relative of the sperm whale from the Miocene. Its fossils have been found in Europe and the United States.[1]

This large species is the most stemward physeterid, retaining functional upper teeth lacking enamel.[2]

References

  1. ^ http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=basicTaxonInfo&taxon_no=36808
  2. ^ Sperm whales from the Miocene of the North Sea: a re-appraisal - Author(s) LAMBERT Olivier