Squalodelphis
Extinct genus of river dolphin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Squalodelphis is an extinct genus of river dolphin from the early Miocene belonging to Squalodelphinidae, containing only its type species Squalodelphis fabianii.[1] Known remains have been found in Italy and Germany.[2][1]
| Squalodelphis Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| |
| Skull of Squalodelphis fabianii | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Infraorder: | Cetacea |
| Family: | †Squalodelphinidae |
| Genus: | †Squalodelphis Dal Piaz, 1917 |
| Species: | †S. fabianii |
| Binomial name | |
| †Squalodelphis fabianii Dal Piaz, 1917 | |
Taxonomy
Squalodelphis is the type genus of the family Squalodelphinidae, which also includes the genera Huaridelphis, Notocetus, Phocageneus, Macrosqualodelphis, Medocinia, and Furcacetus.[3] Throughout its history, it has been moved several times between Squalodelphinidae (previously Squalodelphidae) and Ziphiidae.
Description
Squalodelphis differs from Huaridelphis and Macrosqualodelphis in having a dorsal opening of the mesorostral groove broader than that of the premaxilla in the rostral base and lower tooth count, and from Macrosqualodelphis in having a transversely narrower nuchal crest as well as the left and right frontals being of unequal length at the vertex.[4]