New Primitive Mysticetes From New Zealand

[DD1991]

Hi,

For those of you interested in fossil cetaceans, please find the following papers concerning new fossil mysticetes from New Zealand:

Robert W. Boessenecker and R. Ewan Fordyce (2015). "A new genus and species of eomysticetid (Cetacea: Mysticeti) and a reinterpretation of ‘Mauicetus’ lophocephalus Marples, 1956: Transitional baleen whales from the upper Oligocene of New Zealand". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. Online edition. doi:10.1111/zoj.12297.

Boessenecker RW, Fordyce RE. (2015) Anatomy, feeding ecology, and ontogeny of a transitional baleen whale: a new genus and species of Eomysticetidae (Mammalia: Cetacea) from the Oligocene of New Zealand. PeerJ 3:e1129 https://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.1129

The description of Tokarahia and Waharoa demonstrates that eomysticetid diversity during the Chattian was greater than previously thought, and I'm miraculously happy to see that a great part of the Tokarahia lophocephalus holotype is still extant. There is yet another new eomysticetid from New Zealand that dates to the Rupelian (33-28 million years ago) (informally named Matapa waihao), and an as-yet-unnamed miniature balaenid (OU 22224). Therefore, it is clear than all clades of crown and extinct Mysticeti were already coming of age in the Late Oligocene.

[Auspex]

Thanks!

Dr. Bossenecker is a long time member here

[jpc]

Correction... Bobby has been a member for a long time Dr Boessenecker has been a mamber since he recently earned his PhD.

[Auspex]

Correction... Bobby has been a member for a long time Dr Boessenecker has been a mamber since he recently earned his PhD.

True that; I just like to say "Dr. Bossenecker"