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Eophyseter

Mammalia - Cetacea - Physeteridae

Taxonomy

Species
E. damarcoi (type species)

Synonymy list
YearName and author
2025Eophyseter Bisconti et al. p. 148

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
subclassSynapsida
Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
Mammaliamorpha
Mammaliaformes
RankNameAuthor
classMammalia
Cladotheria
Zatheria
subclassTribosphenida()
subclassTheria
Eutheria()
Placentalia
Boreoeutheria
Laurasiatheria
Scrotifera
Euungulata
Artiodactylamorpha
Artiodactyla()
Whippomorpha
orderCetacea
Pelagiceti
Neoceti
suborderOdontoceti
superfamilyPhyseteroidea
familyPhyseteridae
genusEophyseter

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

G. †Eophyseter Bisconti et al. 2025
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Eophyseter damarcoi Bisconti et al. 2025
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
M. Bisconti et al. 2025Eophyseter damarcoi gen. nov. sp. nov.
shows a unique morphology of the atlas, in the axis-bearing cervical
block, in the proportions of the vertebral column and in the ulna.
Diagnostic characters are the following: (1) the atlas is characterized
by articular facets for the occipital condyles that protrude dorsally to
the body of the vertebra and reach the height of the superior surface
of the neural arch; (2) the articular surface for occipital condyles are
comparatively wider than those of all the other physeteroids in which
the atlas is preserved, and their ventromedial portion is comparatively
longer; (3) in the axis-bearing cervical block, the epiphysis of the 7th
cervical vertebra is dorsoventrally compressed and transversely wid-
ened to form showing an elliptical outline (it is transversely narrow
and rounder in all the other physeteroids in which the axis-bearing
block is preserved); (4) the lengths of the vertebral centra are com-
paratively more elongated than those of physeterids in which the
vertebral column is known; in particular, in a long portion of the
thoracic and lumbar regions of the vertebral column, the lengths of
the centra are almost equal to the corresponding widths and heights
(this pattern contrasts with that of extant sperm whales in which
the length values are lower than those of heights and widths); (5)
the posterior border of the ulna is posteriorly convex rather than
being straight or concave as in other physeterids in which the ulna
is preserved.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: hydroxyapatitesubo
Form: roller-shapedo
Ontogeny: modification of partso
Environment: marine, freshwatersubo
Locomotion: actively mobileo
Life habit: aquatico
Depth habitat: surfaceo
Diet: piscivoref
Diet 2: carnivoref
Reproduction: viviparoussubo
Created: 2005-06-08 10:11:09
Modified: 2005-06-08 12:11:09
Source: f = family, subo = suborder, o = order
References: Nowak 1991, Uhen 2004

Age range: Piacenzian or 3.60000 to 2.58000 Ma

Collections: one only


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Piacenzian3.6 - 2.58Italy (Asti) Physeter macrocephalus (80610)