Metopocetus
Extinct genus of mammals
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Metopocetus is an extinct genus of baleen whale belonging to the family Cetotheriidae. The type species is Metopocetus durinasus.
| Metopocetus Temporal range: Miocene, | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Infraorder: | Cetacea |
| Family: | Cetotheriidae |
| Subfamily: | †Herpetocetinae |
| Genus: | †Metopocetus Cope, 1896 |
| Species | |
|
†M. durinasus Cope, 1896 (type) | |
Description
Metopocetus is diagnosable by lateral occipital crests continuous with temporal crests that diverge forward, as well as elongate frontals, and short nasal bones that project posterior to frontals.[1]
Location
Metopocetus durinasus is known only from the middle Miocene (Langhian) Calvert Beach Member of the Calvert Formation of Westmoreland County, Virginia. Its type specimen is USNM 8518.[2] On the other hand, Metopocetus hunteri is based on a partial cranium from the Breda Formation of the Netherlands.[3]