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Mesocetus argillarius sp.n. (Cetacea, Mysticeti) from Upper Miocene of Denmark, with Remarks on the Lower Jaw and the Echolocation System in Whale Phytogeny
Author(s) -
ROTH FLEMMING
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
zoologica scripta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.204
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1463-6409
pISSN - 0300-3256
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-6409.1978.tb00589.x
Subject(s) - human echolocation , baleen , cetacea , biology , whale , paleontology , anatomy , zoology , ecology , neuroscience
A detailed description is given of the lower jaw and cervical vertebrae of an almost complete skeleton of a baleen whale, Mesocetus argillarius sp.n., from the Gram Formation of Jutland, Denmark. After comparison with other baleen whales it is concluded that the Miocene species of Mesocetus are closely related to recent balaenopterids, although not their direct ancestors. The relationship to recent balaenids is more remote. The voluminous mandibular canal found in various Mesocetus species, in Pelocetus mirabilis and in some Arahaeoceti e.g. Zygorhiza kochi and Dorudon osiris , may be one of the prerequisites for the development during whale phylogeny of the echolocation system found in a highly refined form in modern Odontoceti. Asymmetry in the cranial skeleton characteristic of modern odontocetes seems to be closely linked with the echolocation system and when detected in fossil forms, it may indicate that this system was already established there. Accordingly, it would appear from forms such as Diochotichus vanbenedeni and Prosqualodon australis that some sort of echolocation was in existence as early as in the Lower Miocene.