Placoziphius
Extinct genus of toothed whales
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Placoziphius is an 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 |
| Infraclass: | Placentalia |
| 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]
