Placoziphius
Extinct genus of toothed whales
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Placoziphius is a extinct genus of toothed whales that belongs to the subfamily Physeterinae. It lived in Belgium during the Miocene epoch.[1][2][3]
| Placoziphius | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Infraorder: | Cetacea |
| Family: | Physeteridae |
| Subfamily: | Physeterinae |
| Genus: | †Placoziphius van Beneden, 1869 |
| Species: | †P. duboisi |
| Binomial name | |
| †Placoziphius duboisi van Beneden, 1869 | |
It is larger than all known kogiid species and was similar in size to Diaphorocetus and the smallest specimens of Orycterocetus.[1]
Discovery
Remains of this genus were first uncovered in Belgium south to Antwerp from the Berchem formation in the Edegem Sands member.[1]
The holotype specimen (IRSNB M.530) consist of a fragmentary skull. This included most of the rostrum, fragments of the supraorbital processes and of the supracranial basin, the two squamosal and exoccipital sets, and an associated fragment of atlas.[1]
