Pterophocaena
Pterophocaena nishinoi is an extinct species of porpoise discovered in the Late Miocene Wakkanai Formation of Japan dating to 9.3–9.2 million years ago (mya), and may represent an intermediate phase between porpoises and dolphins. It is one of the oldest species discovered, after the Middle Miocene Loxolithax 16–14.8 mya and the Late Miocene Salumiphocaena 12.6–9 mya. The holotype specimen comprises a partial skeleton. The genus name derives from Ancient Greek pteryx, "wing," in reference to its unusually pronounced beak, and Latin phocaena, "porpoise." The species name honors the discoverer of the holotype, Takanobu Nishino.[1]
| Pterophocaena Temporal range: Late Miocene 9.2–9.3 Ma | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Infraorder: | Cetacea |
| Family: | Phocoenidae |
| Genus: | Pterophocaena Murakami, Shimada, Hikida, and Hirano, 2012 |
| Species: | P. nishinoi |
| Binomial name | |
| Pterophocaena nishinoi Murakami, Shimada, Hikida, and Hirano, 2011 | |
References
- Murakami, M.; Shimada, C.; Hikida, Y.; Hirano, H. (2011). "A new basal porpoise, Pterophocaena nishinoi (Cetacea, Odontoceti, Delphinoidea), from the upper Miocene of Japan and its phylogenetic relationships". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 32 (5): 1157–1171. doi:10.1080/02724634.2012.677299.
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