Cetotheriophanes

Cetotheriophanes
Temporal range: late Pliocene
Skull in Bologna
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetacea
Suborder: Mysticeti
Family: Balaenopteridae
Gray 1864
Genus: Cetotheriophanes
Brandt 1873
Species

C. capellinii (Brandt, 1873) (type)

Cetotheriophanes is an extinct rorqual from the late Pliocene (Piacenzian) of northern Italy.[1]

Classification

Cetotheriophanes was originally described as a subgenus of Cetotherium in 1873, but later elevated to full generic status in 1875. It was later considered a synonym of Balaenoptera by some authors, but recent work suggests that Cetotheriophanes is distinct from Balaenoptera.

References

  1. T. A. Demere, A. Berta, and M. R. McGowen. 2005. The taxonomic and evolutionary history of modern balaenopteroid mysticetes. Journal of Mammalian Evolution 12(1/2):99-143