The discovery of a Balaenomorpha (Persufflatius renefraaijeni n. gen., n. sp.) from the upper Miocene of the Netherlands sheds new light on the cranial anatomy of archaic rorqual relatives
article
A basal member of Balaenomorpha (Cetacea, Mysticeti), Persufflatius renefraaijeni, n. gen., n. sp., is
described based on cranial material discovered in upper Miocene deposits of Liessel (the Netherlands).
Thanks to the palynological analysis of an associated sediment sample, the specimen is dated from the
late Tortonian (Dinozone SNS M14: c. 8.2-7.6 Ma). Our phylogenetic analysis recovers the new taxon
at the base of the successful crown mysticete clade leading to modern rorquals. Though the holotype is
only partially preserved (it consists of the partial right side of the neurocranium), it provides new data
on the cranial anatomy of these early relatives of extant rorquals, which are poorly represented in the
global fossil record. Several skull parts (postglenoid process of the squamosal, base of the zygomatic
process of the squamosal, the anteromedioventral portion of the squamosal bone, and the exoccipital)
show unusual swelling due to pachyostosis, giving the whole lateral basicranial region an inflated aspect.
described based on cranial material discovered in upper Miocene deposits of Liessel (the Netherlands).
Thanks to the palynological analysis of an associated sediment sample, the specimen is dated from the
late Tortonian (Dinozone SNS M14: c. 8.2-7.6 Ma). Our phylogenetic analysis recovers the new taxon
at the base of the successful crown mysticete clade leading to modern rorquals. Though the holotype is
only partially preserved (it consists of the partial right side of the neurocranium), it provides new data
on the cranial anatomy of these early relatives of extant rorquals, which are poorly represented in the
global fossil record. Several skull parts (postglenoid process of the squamosal, base of the zygomatic
process of the squamosal, the anteromedioventral portion of the squamosal bone, and the exoccipital)
show unusual swelling due to pachyostosis, giving the whole lateral basicranial region an inflated aspect.
Topics
TNO Identifier
977756
Source
Geodiversitas, pp. 933-973.
Pages
933-973
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