Coronodon
Coronodon is a genus of toothed mysticetes from the Early Oligocene Ashley Formation of South Carolina.
Coronodon Temporal range: | |
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Coronodon anterolateral at Mace Brown Museum of Natural History | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Infraorder: | Cetacea |
Parvorder: | Mysticeti |
Genus: | †Coronodon Geisler et al., 2017 |
Type species | |
Coronodon havensteini Geisler et al., 2017 |
Description
It was about the same size as Dorudon, measuring 4.9 m (16 ft) long and weighing 1,150 kg (2,540 lb). The rostrum of Coronodon is wide, judging by its straight sides and short mandibular symphysis. Despite being similar to some archaeocetes in having a rostrum that is twisted counterclockwise in anterior view, it differs in having posterior teeth with subequal cusps and an upturned anterior process of the maxilla. Coronodon differs from other toothed mysticetes in having anterior lower molars labially overlapping posterior lower molars.[1]
Phylogeny
Coronodon falls basally within Mysticeti, being closely related to the unnamed taxon ChM PV 5720 and more primitive than "Metasqualodon" symmetricus, Aetiocetidae, Mammalodontidae and Llanocetus.[1]
References
- Geisler, Jonathan H; Boessenecker, Robert W; Brown, Mace; Beatty, Brian L (2017). "The Origin of Filter Feeding in Whales". Current Biology. 27 (13): 2036–2042.e2. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2017.06.003. PMID 28669761.
- "Ancient South Carolina whale yields secrets to filter feeding's origins". ScienceDaily (Press release). 29 June 2017.