Denebola (genus)
| Denebola brachycephala Temporal range: Late Miocene | |
|---|---|
 | |
| D. brachycephala and Praekogia | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Monodontidae |
| Genus: | Denebola |
| Species: | D. brachycephala |
| Binomial name | |
| Denebola brachycephala Barnes, 1984 | |
Denebola brachycephala is an extinct whale belonging to the family Monodontidae. It is the first known ancestor of the beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) and dates from the Upper Miocene period.[1] A fossil was found in the Baja California peninsula, indicating that the family once existed in warmer waters.[2]
References
- ↑ ZipcodeZoo.com. "Denebola brachycephala". Retrieved 2010-09-16.
- ↑ William F. Perrin,Bernd G. Würsig,J. G. M. Thewissen (2009). Encyclopedia of marine mammals (2 ed.). Acadenmic Press. p. 214. ISBN 978-0-12-373553-9.